The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Shimla has intensified its crackdown on a massive scholarship fraud, filing two fresh legal complaints before a special court. These actions are part of a sweeping investigation into the embezzlement of funds meant for underprivileged students across several states.
Fresh Chargesheets Target Educational Trusts
According to officials, the federal agency submitted two supplementary prosecution complaints under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The first complaint was filed on December 17 against the Dev Bhumy Educational Trust and its head, Bhupinder Kumar Sharma. This trust operated the Dev Bhumy Group of Institutes located in Una, Himachal Pradesh.
The second complaint was lodged earlier, on August 22, targeting the ICL Hitech Educational Society and its key figure, Sanjiv Kumar Prabhakar. This society runs the ICL Group of Colleges in Haryana. Both entities stand accused of actively participating in a complex money laundering scheme.
How the Scholarship Scam Operated
The ED's probe originated from a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Shimla. The case revolves around severe irregularities in the post-matric scholarship scheme, which is managed by the state's directorate of higher education.
Investigators uncovered a widespread fraud where numerous educational institutions submitted fabricated claims to siphon off government money. The institutes allegedly used the HP e-Pass portal to manipulate key student data. They entered false information regarding course enrollment, caste categories, and even hostel status for students who were either not admitted or had dropped out.
The illicit proceeds from this scam were then allegedly funneled into purchasing both movable and immovable properties, effectively laundering the stolen scholarship funds.
Major Assets Seized and Arrests Made
The enforcement action has yielded significant results so far. During searches conducted earlier, the ED seized incriminating documents and cash amounting to approximately Rs 80 lakh. Furthermore, the agency froze bank accounts and fixed deposits with a total value of Rs 3.30 crore.
In a major move, the ED has also provisionally attached assets worth around Rs 30.5 crore believed to have been acquired with the proceeds of the crime. The human cost of the scam is also becoming clear, with six individuals arrested in connection with the case to date.
The investigation remains active, with the ED continuing to follow the trail of the misappropriated funds meant for students from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Class communities.
