CBI seeks voice samples of DSP, files plea before court

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an application before the court for issuing direction to its DSP Balbir Singh for providing his voice samples.

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The CBI had arrested DSP Balbir in an alleged scholarship scam of Himachal Pradesh. The accused was investigating the scam.

The CBI claimed that DSP Balbir had arranged the meeting at Hotel Lalit on December 14, 2024, and had negotiated the bribe amount of Rs 55 lakh. He had further facilitated delivery of bribe amount near Aerocity Road, Zirakpur, to other accused persons.

There were two incriminating recordings of DSP Balbir with the complainant just prior to the delivery of bribe money, claimed the CBI.

The central agency said to establish their identity, voice samples of the accused had to be obtained and subjected to forensic analysis.

The CBI said the accused had been informed of the requirements to provide voice samples for the purpose of fair investigation. However, the accused has intentionally refused to provide the specimen and had not cooperated in probe. The CBI said the Supreme Court of India had also held that directing an accused to give a specimen voice does not violate fundamental rights under Article 20 (3) of the Constitution of India.

Denying the allegations, PK Dogra and Vinod Sharma, counsels of the accused, said DSP Balbir had filed the chargesheet against the complainant in the scholarship scam. The DSP and Vishal Deep, former Assistant Director Shimla, were produced before the court on Wednesday, which sent them to judicial custody till February 3.

The CBI had filed an FIR against Vishal Deep on the complaint of directors of two educational institutes on December 22, 2024, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI had earlier moved an application for seeking voice samples of Vishal Deep.