What Is Himachal Scholarship Scam? CBI Charge Sheet Against Own DSP, 3 Others In Case

The CBI filed charges against four individuals, including an Assistant Director of the ED, for their involvement in a Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam.

The CBI has filed a charge sheet against four accused in the scholarship scam in Himachal Pradesh. (File Photo)

Source : PTI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed a charge sheet against four accused who had been arrested in the scholarship scam in Himachal Pradesh.

The charge sheet has been filed against Enforcement Directorate (ED) Assistant Director Vishal Deep, its own DSP Balbir Singh, and Vishal's two relatives, Vikas Deep and Niraj, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and Section 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the BNS.

As per the details, on December 22, 2024, the CBI had registered two FIRs against Deep based on complaints lodged by Bhupinder Kumar Sharma, chairman of Dev Bhumi Group of Institutions, Una, and Rajneesh Bansal, chairman of Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions, Sirmaur. Both accused Vishal Deep and other ED officials of 'demanding bribes for not arresting them' in connection with cases registered against their institutions by ED.

However, according to Deep, while he was investigating the proceeds of crime in the alleged Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam, he was induced by DSP Balbir and the complainant in one of the two FIRs to 'accept a bribe amount to lend favours to the complainant by diluting the charges and by not arresting them', The Indian Express reported.

Following this, CBI arrested Balbir Singh. As per the details, the alleged meeting between Bhupinder Sharma and Vishal Deep, occurred at Hotel Lalit on December 14, 2024, where the bribe amount was negotiated at Rs 55 lakh. Further, the CBI claimed that Singh facilitated the delivery of the bribe on December 22, a report from Hindustan Times said.

Himachal Pradesh Scholarship Scam

An alleged scam of Rs 250 crore in the scholarship meant for 2.38 lakh students from the weaker section was reported in Himachal Pradesh between 2013 and 2019.

As per the details, the ST, SC and minority category students were to get scholarships. Scholarships were also to be given to students of private institutions of the state, but, the money for this scholarship was siphoned off by private institutions in a fraudulent manner. Fake admissions of students were shown and money was taken because this amount was not given directly to the students, but was given through colleges. Money was deposited in bank accounts linked to four mobile numbers in the name of 19,915 students, according to India TV.