Vishal Deep, the former assistant director of the Enforcement Directorate’s intelligence wing in Shimla, was arrested in a Rs55 lakh bribery case related to a scholarship scam investigation. The CBI presented him before a special court in Chandigarh on Tuesday, requesting a one-day police remand to aid their investigation.
The CBI claims that Deep, as the investigating officer in the scholarship scam case, used his position to influence the investigation. During questioning, Vishal Deep alleged that DSP Singh had encouraged him to accept a bribe while probing the case.
The prosecution revealed that Singh acted as a middleman between Bhupinder Sharma, the complainant, and Deep. On December 14, 2024, the two allegedly met at Hotel Lalit, where a Rs55 lakh bribe was arranged. The CBI further accused Singh of facilitating the delivery of the bribe on December 22, 2024, near Aerocity Road in Zirakpur, and pointed to incriminating phone conversations between Singh and the complainant before the bribe transfer.
Public prosecutor Narender Singh argued that custodial interrogation was crucial for recovering the remaining Rs1 lakh of the bribe.
Judge Alka Malik approved the request for custody, noting that the accused’s involvement appeared evident at this stage.
An FIR was filed by the CBI on December 22, 2024, following complaints from Bhupinder Kumar Sharma, chairman of Dev Bhumi Group of Institutions, Una, and Rajneesh Bansal, chairman of the Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions, Sirmaur. Both accused Deep and other Enforcement Directorate officials of demanding bribes in exchange for not arresting them in relation to investigations against their institutions.
Earlier, on January 10, 2025, Panchkula police arrested Deep on charges of blackmail and extortion following a complaint filed by Vishal Bansal, brother of Rajneesh Bansal, regarding threats to his family.