Scholarship scam fallout: CBI probes bribery claims against ED officials
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Shimla, Jan 1,
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered two First Information Reports (FIRs) against officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), including an Assistant Director and senior officers posted in Shimla, for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes. The bribery allegations are linked to the ongoing investigation of the ₹181 crore scholarship scam in Himachal Pradesh.
According to CBI sources, the FIRs pertain to a bribe demand to the tune of ₹1.35Cr (55L, 60L, 20L) from two different persons. The case reportedly involve ED officers demanding money from two educational institution promoters who are under investigation for financial irregularities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The primary accused, ED Assistant Director Vishaldeep Singh, allegedly summoned the complainants to his Shimla office, tortured them, and coerced them into paying hefty bribes. The accused officer also involved middlemen, who allegedly helped facilitate the transactions.
The CBI, based on complaints from the educational institution promoters, planned a trap operation near Chandigarh. The complainants were instructed to pay ₹55 and 60 lac in cash to the accused officer’s middlement while CBI operatives monitored the transaction.
However, reportedly Vishaldeep Singh, alerted to the trap, escaped during the operation. His brother and a middleman were arrested, and ₹55 lakh in marked currency notes were recovered.
The bribery allegations have a direct connection to the ₹181 crore post-matriculation scholarship scam. Between 2013 and 2017, funds intended for SC, ST, and OBC students were allegedly misappropriated by private educational institutions. The CBI, which began investigating the scam in 2019, found evidence linking ED officials to attempts to cover up the scam in exchange for bribes.
The scope of the investigation has now widened, with the second FIR reportedly addressing the alleged quid pro quo arrangement involving ED officers to shield the accused institutions.
Following the scandal, the ED has transferred the accused Assistant Director and two supervisory officers—a Deputy Director and a Joint Director—to Delhi. However, the CBI has yet to apprehend the prime accused, who remains absconding. Attempts to locate him are ongoing.
Also read:Himachal based educational institution owners accuse ED officials of extortion
During a press conference in Shimla, the complainants accused the ED officers of harassment, mental torture, and coercion. They revealed how they were summoned repeatedly, threatened with arrests, and forced to arrange large sums of money. One of the complainants even considered suicide, underscoring the extent of the alleged abuse.
The CBI has recovered substantial evidence, including ₹55 lakh in graft money and other documents implicating the accused. The agency is also probing the involvement of additional ED officials and their associates.
The allegations of corruption within the ED’s Shimla office have raised serious concerns about the integrity of enforcement agencies tasked with combating financial crimes. With the CBI expanding its investigation, the scandal is likely to have far-reaching implications, not only for the accused but also for the credibility of institutions meant to uphold justice.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
