SONIA SANGWAN Vs. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Vide R.C. No.0962019S0002, a case has been registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (for short CBI) under Ss. 409, 419, 465, 466, 471 of the Indian Penal Code (in short IPC) and Ss. 13 (1) (c) and 13 (1) (d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act at Police Station CBI, ACB Branch, Shimla. Petitioner was arrested in this case on 14/5/2022. A bail petition preferred by her under Sec. 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was dismissed by learned Special Judge (CBI), Shimla on 19/5/2022. Through instant petition, she seeks her release on regular bail.

(2.) Gist of Allegations. The aforementioned case is in respect of alleged misappropriation of government scholarship funds on large scale with complicity of officials working in the Education department, Central Government, Banks and private institutions.

(3.) Alleged role of petitioner :- Petitioner was the Sub Registrar of the Vidya Jyoti Educational Society, Dera Bassi, Punjab. She was actively involved in the affairs of the institute. In conspiracy with other coaccused, she had dishonestly signed and forwarded the demand letters alongwith list of fake students for claiming scholarship amounts from the Directorate of Education, Himachal Pradesh causing huge loss to the Government exchequer. A lot of irregularities and forgeries were committed for obtaining the false scholarship of the students, who had not even studied in the institutions in question. Fake bank accounts of students were opened without the knowledge of the students. The Institute had dishonestly claimed an amount of Rs.14.41 crores for the students of SC/ST/OBC categories from the Directorate of Higher Education of Himachal Pradesh during the years 2013-2017.