The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken decisive legal action against a former Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer and his banker brother, alleging massive illicit wealth accumulation. The agency registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Tuesday against Vishal Deep, a former ED Assistant Director, and his brother Vikas Deep, a Senior Manager at Punjab National Bank (PNB). The case centers on accusations of amassing disproportionate assets far beyond their legitimate earnings during a short span in 2024.
Details of the Disproportionate Assets Allegations
According to the FIR filed by the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch in Chandigarh, the case originated from a preliminary enquiry. This probe was initiated as an offshoot of earlier trap cases registered in 2024. The check period under scrutiny is from March 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
The investigation alleges that during this period, the brothers acquired assets worth approximately Rs 93.24 lakh, which is a staggering 231.48 per cent more than their combined known sources of income. The CBI's financial breakdown reveals a sharp spike in assets: from Rs 9.20 lakh at the start of the period to Rs 44.44 lakh at the end. Their total income was assessed at Rs 40.28 lakh, but their expenditure was pegged at a much higher Rs 98.29 lakh.
The agency has cited the recovery of Rs 56.41 lakh in unaccounted cash during earlier case investigations, separate from trap money. Additionally, Rs 14.73 lakh in cash was reportedly found at a location in Gurugram, which will be verified in the ongoing probe.
Legal Charges and Broader Investigation
The FIR has been registered under Sections 12, 13(2) read with 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). The CBI's report lists significant transactions, including property investments, vehicle purchases, loan repayments, hotel stays, and high-value online payments made during the check period.
The agency alleges that the brothers utilized not only their personal bank accounts but also accounts of family members to park and rotate illicit funds. The FIR explicitly names Vikas Deep in the role of an abettor. It further states that given the huge cash recoveries and suspicious transactions, the role of other family members in abetment cannot be ruled out and will be examined.
Background and Ongoing Legal Battles
This DA case comes just a month after the Supreme Court granted bail to Vishal Deep. He was previously arrested by the CBI for allegedly seeking bribes from two private college administrators during a probe into the Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam. In a separate case, he was arrested by Panchkula police in January on charges of extortion from Mumbai.
Both brothers are already facing charges in a bribery case. The CBI had registered two FIRs against Vishal Deep in a bribery case after allegations surfaced on December 22, 2024. The duo are presently out on bail in that bribery case. The latest disproportionate assets case adds a significant new legal dimension to their troubles, highlighting the agency's focus on tracking the proceeds of alleged corruption.
