Nalini Malik, former chief financial officer of Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL), has withdrawn her application seeking permission or directions for the Central Bureau of Investigation to participate in the probe and assist the investigating agency in the alleged ₹116-crore Smart City funds case.
Malik was arrested in connection with the case involving more than ₹116 crore of Smart City funds deposited with IDFC First Bank. The case was registered by the Economic Offences Wing of Chandigarh Police on March 9, 2026, following a complaint by Municipal Corporation officials.
CBI Opposes Plea for Court Direction
In its reply, the CBI opposed Malik’s application and submitted that no specific direction from the court was required. The agency said it would continue further investigation in accordance with law and would examine any material furnished by the applicant on the basis of its evidentiary value and relevance.
The matter had been listed for arguments on the application. At that stage, the court recorded that Malik’s counsel, Rakesh Chopra, withdrew the application filed by the accused from jail in view of the CBI’s reply and her subsequent application dated August 19, 2026, which had also been moved from jail.
The statement was recorded separately through a joint statement without prejudice to Malik’s rights. The court subsequently dismissed the applications as withdrawn, again without prejudice to her rights.
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Chargesheet Filed Against Several Accused
After completing its investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet before the court on June 12, 2026, against Ribhav Rishi, Abhay Kumar, Seema Dhiman, Nalini Malik, Priyanka Bhatoa, Anuj Kaushal and Vikram Wadhwa.
The accused were charged under Sections 61(2), 241, 316(5), 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 344 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 7(c), 7A, 8, 9, 10 and 13(2), read with Section 13(1)(a), of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The charges were based on evidence collected during the investigation.
Court Allows De-Sealing of Another Accused’s House
In a separate development in the same case, the court allowed an application filed by another accused, Anubhav Mishra, seeking the de-sealing of his house in Naya Gaon, SAS Nagar, Mohali, Punjab.
The order came as proceedings continued in the alleged Smart City funds case, in which Malik and several other accused have already been chargesheeted.
