CBI Detains DSP in Himachal Scholarship Fraud
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Synopsis
The CBI has arrested DSP Balbir Singh from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, in a bribery case linked to the Enforcement Directorate. The case involves allegations of extortion and negotiation of bribes, prompting legal proceedings against Singh and others.
Key Takeaways
- CBI arrested DSP Balbir Singh.
- Case linked to Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam.
- Bribery negotiations involving Rs 55 lakh.
- Deep's allegations against Singh regarding extortion.
- Custodial interrogation aimed at recovering Rs 1 lakh.
Chandigarh, Jan 21 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken into custody its Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Balbir Singh, who is stationed in the Himachal Pradesh capital, Shimla, in relation to a bribery scandal that also implicates the Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorate and two additional individuals.
The DSP's arrest followed his interrogation regarding the bribery allegations associated with the purported Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam. Singh was subsequently presented before the Special CBI Court, which remanded him to CBI custody for one day.
Just one day prior, he had been summoned for questioning at the CBI's office in Chandigarh but was hospitalized due to health issues. The CBI filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Vishal Deep, the former Assistant Director in Shimla, on December 22, 2024, based on complaints from directors of two educational institutions, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The CBI claims that the ED officer, aided by two relatives, was coercively demanding money by threatening to arrest them in a case he was managing. Conversely, Deep contends that the DSP and one of the complainants attempted to bribe him to prevent the arrest and lessen the charges against the complainant.
The public prosecutor, Narender Singh, informed the court that the accused DSP facilitated a meeting with complainant Deep at a hotel on December 14, 2024, during which they negotiated a bribe of Rs 55 lakh. An examination of Singh's mobile device supported his presence at the hotel.
On December 22, 2024, the CBI registered two FIRs against Deep based on complaints filed by Bhupinder Kumar Sharma, chairman of Dev Bhumi Group of Institutions in Una, and Rajneesh Bansal, chairman of Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions in Sirmaur district.
During questioning, Deep revealed that Singh had facilitated negotiations for the bribe during their December meeting. The public prosecutor stated that Singh's custodial interrogation is necessary to recover the remaining bribe amount of Rs 1 lakh.
