Chandigarh, December 29, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV & ACB), Ambala has achieved a major breakthrough under its special drive ‘Peechha Karo’ by arresting three absconding accused involved in a large-scale scholarship scam. The arrests were made on December 29, 2025, in connection with a case registered at Police Station, State Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau, Ambala.
The arrested persons have been identified as Dharambir, son of Jai Kishan Sharma, resident of village Sirta, district Kaithal (operator of a CEG Centre); Rajesh Kumar, son of Khazan Chand, resident of Defence Colony, Kaithal; and Naveen Kumar, son of Raghuveer Singh, resident of Friends Colony, Assandh, district Karnal, who was running a Customer Service Point (CSP). All three are private individuals.
According to the investigation, the accused, in criminal conspiracy with Hukam Chand Gupta, the then Deputy Manager (Accounts), State Bank of India, Mini Secretariat, Kaithal (since retired), executed a well-planned scholarship fraud during the academic sessions 2013–14 and 2014–15. The accused allegedly opened bank accounts of 91 students by using the address of their CEG centre and by linking their own mobile numbers. Passbooks and ATM cards of these accounts were retained by them.
It was further revealed that fake admissions in GNM/ANM courses were shown in various educational institutions in Punjab by using forged college seals and fabricated signatures of principals. On the basis of forged attendance records and documents, scholarship applications were submitted to the District Welfare Officer, Kaithal.
Subsequently, the scholarship amount was fraudulently withdrawn through biometric authentication at CSPs as well as through cash, cheque and NEFT transactions. In this manner, an amount of ₹44,59,760 meant for 91 students was misappropriated, causing substantial financial loss to the Haryana Government and depriving genuine beneficiaries of their rightful assistance.
In this case, offences have been registered under Sections 13(2), 13(1)(c) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. Earlier, action had also been taken against co-accused Hukam Chand Gupta, retired Deputy Manager (Accounts), SBI, Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh).
Officials stated that under the ‘Peechha Karo’ campaign, the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Haryana has so far arrested 20 absconding accused in various corruption-related cases. The campaign continues with renewed vigour to track down offenders and ensure strict legal action against those involved in corrupt practices.
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