On 30.08.2023, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested Rajdeep Josan and Krishan Kumar, partners in the ASAMS Education Group; Hitesh Gandhi, Vice-Chairman of the KC Group of Institutions, Pandoga and Arvind Rajta, the then official of the Scholarship Branch, Directorate of Higher Education, Himachal Pradesh, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in connection with the Himachal Pradesh Scholarship Scam. The apprehended individuals were brought before the Hon’ble PMLA Special Court in Shimla, and the Hon’ble Court granted the ED custody for five days.
The ED launched an inquiry based on an FIR filed by the CBI in Shimla, alleging that the state education department, private colleges, and bank officials were involved in a large-scale misappropriation of Himachal Pradesh Scholarship monies totalling more than Rs. 200 crores.
An ED inquiry found that Rajdeep Josan and Krishan Kumar, through M/s ASAMS Education Group & Skill Development Society, fraudulently claimed scholarships under the post-matric scheme for SC/ ST/ OBC students.
Similarly, the KC Group of Institutions, Pandoga, led by Hitesh Gandhi, made fake scholarship claims, which Arvind Rajta validated. Hitesh Gandhi moved the scholarship funds from the student’s bank accounts to the bank accounts of the KC Group of Institutions, Padoga.
Previously, searches were performed at 24 places across four states, and a Provisional Attachment Order in the sum of Rs. 4.42 Crore was issued on March 31, 2022, and affirmed by the Ld. Adjudicating Authority, PMLA.
