RTI reveals PF Scam Worth Crores involving 191 Accounts

1. The appellant filed RTI application seeking to know name of the EPFO official dealing with his PF a/c, date of transfer of his money, name of person in whose account his money has been transferred, his address and account number, action taken or inquiry report, if any, as his saving account with CBI bearing a/c no. 3153418884 had been frozen without any notice to him. He was informed by the bank about some fraudulent preliminary enquiry being carried out by EPFO. He complained that EPFO Vigilance department without giving him any notice, his account was frozen. He also sought to know the time required to unfreeze his account due to financial difficulty. CPIO replied on 30.06.2016 and informed that the desired information/documents cannot be provided under section 8(1)(h) under RTI Act, 2005 as the matter is under investigation and the revelation of the information would impede the process of investigation. The Asst. PF Commissioner sent a letter dated 16.03.2016 requesting for bank statement and Account holder’s details for the purpose of preliminary inquiry. The appellant approached this Commission as no information was furnished to the appellant.

Decision :

2. The PIO stated that a fraud of more than 3 crores of rupees have been come to light and presently the matter is entrusted to the SHO, Ashok Vihar, Police Station in which the investigation is in process. The PIO submitted that the information sought by the appellant could not be given because his PF account number was frozen along with 190 other accounts in pursuance of an investigation initiated suo-motu by EPFO.