CBI officer arrested in Himachal scholarship scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested its DSP Balbir Singh in an alleged scholarship scam in Himachal Pradesh.

The arrested accused was investigating the alleged scam. The agency produced him before the Chandigarh CBI Court today, which granted one-day remand to the CBI.

The CBI has registered an FIR against Vishal Deep, former Assistant Director, Shimla, on complaints of directors of two educational institutions on December 22, 2024, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI alleged that the ED officer, with the help of two relatives, was extorting money by threatening to arrest them in the investigation he was overseeing. Vishal Deep, however, alleged that the DSP and one of the complainants tried to induce him to accept a bribe for not arresting the complainant and diluting the charges against him.

Public prosecutor Narender Singh, while seeking remand told the court that the accused DSP had mediated the meeting with complainant Vishal Deep in Hotel Lalit on December 14, 2024, and had negotiated the bribe amount of Rs 55 lakh. The DSP was the IO in an alleged scholarship scam case investigated by the CBI and hence, was very well acquainted with the complainant.

CDR analysis of Balbir Singh's mobile also substantiates his presence at the hotel on the particular   date. He had further facilitated delivery of bribe near Aerocity Road, Zirakpur, to the other accused persons.

There are two incriminating recordings of his telephonic conversations with the complainant just prior to the delivery of the bribe money during the trap proceedings.

During his interrogation, Vishal Deep had also disclosed that Balbir Singh had mediated for negotiating the bribe amount during the meeting in December.

The public prosecutor said that Singh’s custodial interrogation is required for recovery of the remaining bribe money of Rs 1 lakh.

He said that the CBI wants to know the modus operandi in committing the offence in conspiracy with the other accused. They used a WhatsApp number from another country and talked with the   complainant through Zangi app.

On the other hand, PK Dogra and Vinod Sharma, counsels of the accused, denied the allegations   and opposed the remand. Both said that the DSP had filed the chargesheet against the complainant in the scam and was falsely implicated in the case.

After hearing the arguments, the court has granted one-day remand to the accused and also   allowed the plea of the counsels to allow them to meet him in CBI office.