Patna: A senior official in the planning and development department has been suspended in connection with the multi-crore Srijan scam, making him the first such official against whom disciplinary action has been taken in the case.

Krishna Kumar, a Bihar administrative service officer posted as special secretary in the department, was suspended on Friday for alleged connivance with the scamsters, who siphoned off government funds meant for land acquisition in the Kosi region to rehabilitate victims of the 2008 Kosi deluge. The general administration department issued a notification.

At the time of the scam - that surfaced in August this year - Krishna was posted as special land acquisition officer in Saharsa.

Krishna Kumar, the general administration department claimed, not only facilitated funds transfer to accounts of Bhagalpur-based NGO Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti Ltd, but also didn't claim interest on the amount.

"The disciplinary action against Krishna Kumar has been taken on the recommendation of water resource department. The water resource department had sent its recommendation to the state government on December 6, 2017," states a letter issued by Bhim Prasad, joint secretary of the general administration department.

Till now, 18 people arrested in the Srijan case had mostly been clerks and bank officials. One of the accused, Mahesh Mandal, posted in the Bhagalpur district welfare office, died in judicial custody during treatment. Government officials in the ranks of district magistrate and deputy development commissioner have been quizzed but action hadn't been taken against anybody before Krishna's suspension.

An FIR against Krishna was lodged with Saharsa sadar police station under sections 406, 409, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code. He will remain attached to the office of the Patna divisional commissioner during his suspension and be entitled to sustenance allowance as per rule.

The action against the special secretary followed a detailed inquiry conducted on the directive of Saharsa district magistrate Vinod Singh Gunjiyal. The team detected illegal transfer of Rs 162 crore to Srijan's account with Bank of Baroda in Bhagalpur during 2012-13. What puzzled the officials, Gunjiyal had earlier told The Telegraph, was that the government money was used by Srijan at its Sabour headquarters for two years without any interest being claimed for it, hinting at the connivance of then land acquisition officer Krishna.

The principal amount was later returned to the account of then special land acquisition officer in 2015.

The probe team's report was also sent to the government that finally put then special land acquisition officer Krishna under suspension.

Krishna could not be reached on his official mobile phone despite several attempts.