Shimla: In a major development in the high-profile scholarship fraud case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) special court has declared Rajneesh Bansal, Managing Director of the Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions (HGPI), as a proclaimed offender. This declaration allows the ED to initiate the auction of his seized assets.
The court observed that Bansal has been deliberately evading judicial proceedings despite repeated summons, notices, and proclamations. Consequently, he was formally declared a fugitive.
Proclamations Issued at Multiple Locations, Yet Bansal Remains Absent
Copies of the proclamation were posted at:
- Bansal’s residence in Kurukshetra,
- HGPI office in Amb, Nahan,
- Special ED court notice board in Shimla.
Despite these notifications, Bansal did not appear in court. The court concluded that he was intentionally avoiding the judicial process. Following this, it ordered his name to be included in the ED’s register of fugitive offenders.
Scholarship Scam: Alleged Loot of Crores
The case involves massive irregularities in the disbursement of government scholarship funds by private institutions in Himachal Pradesh. The CBI had registered an FIR on May 7, 2019, against Rajneesh Bansal and other accused for allegedly siphoning off crores of rupees in scholarships with collusion from officials.
Joint CBI and ED Action: Summons, Arrests, and Searches
- April 8, 2024: CBI arrested Rajneesh Bansal; he was later granted bail.
- January 29, 2025: ED conducted a raid at his Panchkula residence and arrested his brother, currently in jail.
- February 6, 2025: Bansal failed to appear before ED on the last summons issued.
Earlier interim bail requests by Bansal were rejected. Subsequently, ED approached the court under Section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, seeking a non-bailable warrant. On March 12, 2025, the special ED court issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against him.
Case Timeline: From Police FIR to ED Investigation
The alleged fraud dates back to 2014-15.
- November 16, 2018: Chhota Shimla police registered the FIR against Bansal and others.
- May 7, 2019: Case transferred to CBI for investigation.
- July 19, 2019: ED began investigation under the Money Laundering Act.
Bansal has consistently avoided cooperating with authorities, prompting the ED to take stronger legal measures.
Next Steps: Asset Auction and Enforcement
With Bansal declared a proclaimed offender, ED is now authorized to:
- Auction his movable and immovable assets,
- Freeze and seize bank accounts,
- Conduct a detailed probe of his financial transactions.
Experts note that this move could be a turning point in the investigation of the scholarship scam, sending a strong message regarding accountability in public-funded programs.
The ED’s action underscores its resolve to ensure strict enforcement of money laundering laws and recover public funds siphoned off by private institutions in collusion with officials.
