The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Balbir Singh, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) stationed at the CBI Branch-1 in Delhi, in connection with a ₹2.5-crore bribery case tied to a scholarship scam. This significant development has raised serious questions about corruption within the agency itself.
Singh was presented before a special CBI court in Chandigarh, where the agency sought a one-day police remand to further investigate the matter. The CBI alleges that Singh exploited his position as the investigating officer to influence the proceedings of the scholarship scam case.
During questioning, former Enforcement Directorate assistant director Vishal Deep claimed that Singh encouraged him to accept a bribe while investigating the scholarship scam in Shimla. The prosecution revealed that Singh acted as a mediator between the complainant, Bhupinder Sharma, and Deep, another accused in the case. Allegedly, the bribe amount was negotiated at ₹55 lakh during a meeting at Hotel Lalit on December 14, 2024.
The CBI also stated that Singh facilitated the delivery of the bribe on December 22, 2024, near Aerocity Road in Zirakpur. Incriminating recordings of Singh's conversations with the complainant were presented as evidence during the proceedings.
Public prosecutor Narender Singh emphasized the necessity of Singh's custodial interrogation to recover the remaining ₹1 lakh of the bribe and to uncover the modus operandi behind the conspiracy involving other accused individuals.
Special judge Alka Malik approved the CBI's request for custody, indicating that the evidence of Singh's involvement appears substantial at this stage. The case against Deep was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act following complaints from Sharma and Rajneesh Bansal, chairman of the Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions, alleging that Deep and other ED officials demanded bribes to avoid arrest concerning cases against their institutions.
Furthermore, on January 10, this year, the Panchkula police arrested Vishal Deep for allegedly blackmailing and extorting money from a businessman, following a complaint from Vishal Bansal, brother of Rajneesh Bansal, who reported threats to his family.