Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC, ST, OBC students: CBI files additional chargesheets in Rs 266 crore scam
Chandigarh, 27 October
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed two additional chargesheets against accused in the alleged Rs 266 scam in Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC, ST, OBC students in a Court.
The chargesheets are based on the India’s premier agency’s “ongoing investigation of a case related to Scholarship Scam in Himachal Pradesh before the Competent Court against 10 accused (06+04 accused) including private persons/Directors of the Educational institutions/employees and officials of Directorate of Higher Education(DHE),” the CBI said in a statement.
A case in the scholarship scam was filed by the CBI on 7 May 2019 after the then Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur led government’s request after it was revealed that some educational institutions had usurped funds meants for SC, ST, OBC students under Post Matric Scholarship scheme.
The embezzlement of funds worth approximately Rs 266 was done by private institutions in connivance of Education department officials.
“28 Institutions were identified who had claimed approx 90% of the total scholarship amount. Searches were earlier conducted at around 30 places at the premises of certain persons & others which led to recovery of incriminating documents.
19 accused including Chairman/Vice-Chairman/ Directors /Employees of the Educational Institutes, bank officials & officials of Directorate of Higher Education were arrested,” the CBI statement reads.
The CBI statement also reminded that the accused are innocent until proven guilty under Indian Law by a competent court and the findings are based on the CBI investigation.
The investigating agency had earlier filed eight chargesheets against 78 accused including government officials and owners of 16 private universities based in Himachal, Chandigarh and Punjab.
