Himachal Scholarship Scam: Charge Framing Process to be Completed on November 14
The investigation in the high-profile scholarship scam in Himachal Pradesh has reached a decisive stage. In this scam, involving over ₹2.5 billion, 266 educational institutions from Himachal Pradesh and other states have been found suspicious, of which investigations into 17 institutions have already been completed.
In the case CBI vs Arvind Rajta (Challan No.-1), the formal process of charge framing will now be completed on November 14. During the hearing in the CBI Special Court, Hitesh Gandhi, Vice President of KC Group of Institutes in Una, argued that the investigation is incomplete and supplementary charge sheets for several institutions are still pending. He requested a stay on the charge framing process, but Special Judge Dr. Parvinder Singh Arora rejected it, terming it an attempt to delay the proceedings.
The court clarified that the investigation of Challan No.-1 is complete and that it is now time to frame charges. Arvind Rajta and Hitesh Gandhi will appear via video conferencing in the next hearing. This case was filed on May 7, 2019, and has now reached its final stage. So far, the CBI has filed 12 charge sheets in this scam.
According to the CBI, some institutions misappropriated funds released under the central scholarship scheme in the names of fictitious students. Hitesh Gandhi and other accused created fake lists of students who had already left the institutions and claimed scholarship amounts in their names.
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