In a major development in the Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed the bail applications of former CBI DSP Balbir Singh and Enforcement Directorate Assistant Director Vishal Deep. Both officials are accused of seeking bribes from private educational institution heads under investigation in connection with the scam.
The bribery allegations first came to light on December 22, 2024, when the Chandigarh CBI registered two FIRs based on complaints from Bhupinder Kumar Sharma, chairman of Dev Bhumi Group of Institutions (Una), and Rajneesh Bansal, chairman of Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions (Sirmaur).
According to the complaints, Vishal Deep and other ED officials allegedly demanded bribes in exchange for not arresting the institute heads over ED-registered cases. Deep was subsequently arrested, and former DSP Balbir Singh was taken into custody on January 10, 2025.
In court, Vishal Deep argued that there was no recovery of bribe money from him and the evidence was only circumstantial. Balbir Singh contended that he wasn’t initially named in the FIR and was later linked to the case based on an inconclusive audio recording.
Despite these defenses, the High Court found sufficient grounds to deny bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing investigation.
The Himachal scholarship scam involves the misuse of central funds meant for students from economically weaker sections. The probe revealed instances of fake admissions and forged documents to claim scholarship funds, leading to a larger web of corruption implicating both institutional heads and officials from enforcement agencies.
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What’s Next?
With the bail pleas denied, both former officials will remain in custody as investigations continue. This case highlights the deep-rooted corruption in the system and reinforces the need for transparent oversight of public welfare schemes.
Disclaimer:
This report is based on publicly available news from Hindustan Times and is intended for informational purposes only.
