ED Tightens Noose in Himachal Scholarship Scam, Files Two Fresh Chargesheets; Court Takes Note
Shimla, May 8, 2025 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped up its probe in the multi-crore Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam by filing two supplementary chargesheets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The Special PMLA Court in Shimla acknowledged the fresh complaints on May 1, 2025.
The Scam: A Snapshot
This scam, pegged at nearly ₹200 crore, revolves around the misuse of post-matric scholarship funds meant for students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). Between 2013 and 2017, several private educational institutions across Himachal Pradesh allegedly faked student records, inflated fee structures, and siphoned off government funds.
Officials found that some colleges claimed money for “ghost” students, tampered with caste certificates, or falsely showed regular students as hostellers to secure higher grants.
The funds were meant to empower underprivileged youth — instead, they were pocketed by corrupt institutions and individuals.
ED Action So Far
Asset Seizures: The ED has confiscated properties worth ₹30.5 crore, including buildings and land linked to key players like ITFT Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. and Maa Saraswati Educational Trust, which runs the Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions.
Six people have been arrested so far. Among them are Vikas Bansal, Vice Chairman of Himalayan Group, and Gulshan Sharma, Executive Director of ITFT College, who were held in January 2025.
The ED’s latest prosecution complaints, based on the earlier CBI FIR, add weight to the ongoing legal battle.
These chargesheets include additional evidence and highlight deeper financial irregularities committed by the accused.
The case, considered one of Himachal’s biggest education-related scams, continues to unfold, with more names and institutions expected to come under scrutiny.
