New Delhi: Indiaโs Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a probe into a high-profile corruption case implicating its own Assistant Director, Vishal Deep, alongside CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Balbir Singh and two others, Vikas Deep and Niraj. The agency recently secured court approval to obtain certified copies of the FIR and full charge sheet from the Special CBI Court in Chandigarh, marking a critical step in its parallel investigation.
Court Grants ED Access to Case Documents
During a hearing before Additional District and Sessions Judge Alka Malik, the EDโs application for the documents was approved unopposed, as defense lawyers for the accused raised no objections. This development allows the ED to scrutinize details of the CBIโs ongoing prosecution, which has already resulted in a charge sheet against all four individuals.
CBI Charges Officials Under Anti-Corruption Laws
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has charged the accused under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (pertaining to bribery) and Section 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (criminal conspiracy). The case centers on allegations that Vishal Deep and ED officials demanded bribes from educational institution chairmen in exchange for shielding them from arrest in the Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam.
Bribery Allegations and Counterclaims
The scandal emerged in December 2024 after two FIRs were filed by the CBI based on complaints from Bhupinder Kumar Sharma of Unaโs Dev Bhumi Group and Rajneesh Bansal of Sirmaurโs Himalayan Group. Both alleged that ED officials, including Vishal Deep, sought bribes to avoid legal action against their institutions. However, Vishal Deep has countered these claims, asserting that he was pressured by CBI DSP Balbir Singh and one complainant to accept money in exchange for weakening the case.
CBI DSPโs Role Under Scrutiny
Balbir Singh, arrested after questioning, allegedly acted as a mediator in the illicit dealings. Investigators claim he arranged a meeting between Vishal Deep and a complainant at Chandigarhโs Hotel Lalit on December 14, 2024, and later facilitated the handover of bribes near Zirakpurโs Aerocity Road on December 22. His involvement has spotlighted concerns about collusion between officers of premier investigative agencies.
The case underscores deepening institutional challenges as federal agencies probe their own personnel. With the ED now formally accessing case records, the legal battle is poised to intensify, potentially exposing broader ethical lapses in Indiaโs anti-corruption framework.
