SHIMLA: The High Court of Himachal Pradesh directed the CBI to file an affidavit specifying the cut-off date within which the investigation in connection with "misappropriation post-Matric scholarship scheme for SC ST OBC students" would be completed.
High Court issued this order in a matter pertaining to wrongful and illegal disbursement and misappropriation of Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme to SC, ST and OBC students.
The Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice A.A. Sayed and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed these orders on a writ petition filed by one Shyam Lal.
The petitioner has pleaded that Mr. Shakti Bhushan, State Project Officer (SPM NIU Shimla), who was appointed by the State to inquire into the matter of misappropriation of the financial scholarships under Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric Scholarships Scheme for the students belonging to SC, ST and OBC.
After conducting inquiry, he lodged an FIR in the year 2018, under the directions of Secretary (Education), to the Govt. of H.P.
The petitioner has further alleged that the inquiry report revealed that the huge sum of scholarship money was misappropriated.
Apart from the educational institutions within the State, scores of educational institutions stationed in other States of India, were also involved in this scam, he alleged.
Consequently, the matter was handed over to the CBI for proper and thorough investigation by the State.
The Counsel for CBI filed fresh status report before the Court.
The counsel for CBI submitted that 24 students and 5 witnesses of Kurukshetra University and Haryana State Board of Technical Education Panchkula have been examined in the matter of ICL Groups of Colleges.
Seven witnesses pertaining to ITFT New Chandigarh, IKGPTU Kapurthala and bank officials have been examined.
The counsel for the CBI further stated that CBI has investigated 28 institutions and has completed investigation in respect of 15 institutions and has filed 7 charge-sheets, so far.
Since the submission of last status report, CBI has completed investigation in respect of two institutions and has filed two charge-sheets. The investigation in respect of the remaining 13 institutions is being conducted, counsel stated.
The investigation is being conducted expeditiously and efforts are being made to complete the investigation at the earliest.
However, court observed that the investigation is being carried out by CBI for last three years.
The Court directed the CBI to file an affidavit giving the cut-off date within which the investigation would be completed.
The said affidavit has been directed to be filed by the next date alongwith the fresh status report.
The matter has been fixed for 19.09.2022.
