ED provisionally attached Assets and Properties worth Rs.6.25 Crore in Himachal Pradesh Scholarship Scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached 5 immovable properties located in Mohali and Shimla in the form of residential plots and flat, and balances lying in 14 Bank accounts, all assets valued at Rs. 6.25 Crore (approx.) belonging to Rajdeep Singh and Krishan Kumar and others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in the matter of Himachal Pradesh Scholarship Scam.

The investigation was initiated by ED on the basis of FIR registered by CBI, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh in the matter where Directorate of Higher Education, H.P disbursed the Scholarship under Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC/ST/OBC Students.

According to an ED investigation, Rajdeep Singh and Krishan Kumar, through M/s ASAMS Education Group and Skill Development Society, claimed scholarships under the post-matric scheme for SC/ ST/ OBC students by presenting false, forged, and fabricated documents. These claims were verified by Arvind Rajta, who was posted at the Directorate of Higher Education, H.P. Government, Shimla.

On August 30, 2023, the ED detained Rajdeep Singh and Krishan Kumar, partners in the ASAMS Education Group; Hitesh Gandhi, Vice-Chairman of the KC Group of Institutions, Pandoga; and Arvind Rajta, then-official of the Scholarship Branch, Directorate of Higher Education, Himachal Pradesh Government. The four accused are all in Judicial Custody.

Earlier, proceeds of crime amounting to Rs. 4.42 Crore were attached in the year, 2022. Thus, the total proceeds of crime attached in this case till date is Rs. 10.67 Crore (approx.).

Further investigation is under process.