Chandigarh, June 12 -- The directorate of enforcement (ED), Chandigarh Zonal Office, has arrested Naresh Kumar, a former superintendent in the office of the director, development and panchayat, Haryana, in connection with the alleged Rs.645-crore IDFC First Bank fraud case involving embezzlement of government funds and money laundering. According to the ED, Naresh Kumar was arrested on June 10 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, following an investigation into the alleged siphoning of public funds from bank accounts belonging to the Haryana government, Chandigarh administration and two private schools in Chandigarh and Panchkula maintained with IDFC First Bank. The agency said its investigation has so far revealed that funds amounting to Rs.645 crore were fraudulently withdrawn and diverted through a network of shell entities and intermediaries. Vikram Wadhwa, identified as one of the principal accused, allegedly acted in connivance with Ribhav Rishi, Abhay Kumar, bank officials and government employees to embezzle government funds. The ED alleged that Naresh received money directly from M/s Swastik Desh Project, a shell entity allegedly used to siphon off government funds. Investigators further claim that Naresh acted as a key middleman in diverting the proceeds of crime and played an active role in generating, layering and concealing illicit funds. According to agency, proceeds of crime amounting to about Rs.1.20 crore were transferred to bank accounts belonging to Naresh and his family members. The ED also alleged that substantial amounts of cash generated from the embezzled funds were delivered to him. Following his arrest, the special court under the PMLA granted the ED custodial interrogation of Naresh till June 14. The agency had earlier arrested Ribhav Rishi, Abhay Kumar and Vikram Wadhwa in the same case....