Panchkula, July 2 -- The anti-corruption bureau (ACB), Panchkula, has arrested three individuals in connection with the embezzlement of Rs.68 crore of government funds. The accused, identified as Vijay Kumar, Manoj Kumar Singla and Sunil Garg, were taken into custody following substantial evidence gathered during the ongoing probe. The case dates back to 2015, when a bank account linked to the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) was allegedly opened at Punjab National Bank (PNB), Manimajra, Chandigarh, without the required authorisation from senior HSVP officials. The conspiracy reportedly originated with Sunil Bansal, then senior accounts officer of HSVP, Panchkula. According to ACB officials, between 2015 and 2019, Bansal illegally transferred nearly Rs.68 crore from government accounts into the unauthorised PNB account. These included Rs.22 crore from the land acquisition officer's (LAO) office account in Gurugram and Rs.46 crore from the HUDA account in Panchkula, said an ACB official. Once deposited in the unauthorised account, the funds were further diverted to various private individuals, including the three accused, the official added. Investigators revealed that approximately Rs.7 crore was transferred to Manoj Kumar Singla's account, Rs.5.88 crore to Sunil Garg, and Rs.5 crore to Vijay Kumar - a total of Rs.17.88 crore. Furthermore, an additional Rs.4 crore was moved to HDFC Bank accounts in Zirakpur linked to companies owned by the accused trio. ACB officials also confirmed that the unauthorised PNB account was abruptly closed by Sunil Bansal on February 27, 2019, a day before his retirement, raising suspicions about deliberate concealment. An FIR in the case was registered on March 7, 2023, under IPC Sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using forged documents), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) at Sector -7 police station. The case was later handed over to anti-corruption bureau, Panchkula, in November 2023. Officials have said that the involvement of the then branch manager and other employees of PNB, Manimajra, is also under active investigation....