Directorate of Enforcement (ED) makes arrests in Scholarship Scam case
Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested Rajdeep Josan and Krishan Kumar, partner ASAMS Education Group; Hitesh Gandhi, Vice-Chairman, KC group of Institutions, Pandoga; Arvind Rajta, the then official of Scholarship Branch, Directorate of Higher Education, Himachal Pradesh on 30.08.2023 under provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in a case connected with Himachal Pradesh Scholarship Scam. The arrested persons were produced before the Hon’ble PMLA Special Court, Shimla and the Hon’ble Court has granted ED custody for 5 days according to the press release shared by the ED department.
ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by CBI, Shimla wherein it was alleged that the state education department, private institutions and bank officials were involved in large scale mis-appropriation of disbursement of scholarship funds more than Rs. 200 Crore.
ED investigation revealed that Rajdeep Josan and Krishan Kumar through M/s ASAMS Education Group & Skill Development Society claimed scholarship under post-matric scheme for SC/ ST/ OBC students by presenting fabricated documents.
Similarly, KC Group of Institutions, Pandoga headed by Hitesh Gandhi made bogus claims for scholarship which were verified by Arvind Rajta. Hitesh Gandhi transferred the scholarship disbursed in the bank account of students to the bank accounts of KC Group of Institutions, Padoga.
Earlier, searches were conducted at 24 locations across 4 states and a Provisional Attachment Order amounting to Rs. 4.42 Crore was issued on 31.03.2022 which was confirmed by the Ld. Adjudicating Authority, PMLA.
