The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its legal pursuit against a senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer, filing a fresh corruption case related to disproportionate assets. The agency has accused ED officer Vishal Deep and his brother, Vikas Deep, a Punjab National Bank manager, of amassing wealth far beyond their legitimate earnings.
Details of the Fresh Disproportionate Assets Case
The new First Information Report (FIR), registered on Tuesday, alleges that the brothers accumulated assets worth Rs 93.24 lakh disproportionate to their known sources of income. The specified period under scrutiny is between March 1 and December 31, 2024. This case emerges from evidence gathered during earlier investigations, including two trap cases (RC-33/2024 and RC-34/2024) and a separate disproportionate assets probe.
During those prior inquiries, the CBI had seized Rs 56.41 lakh in unaccounted cash (excluding trap money) along with incriminating documents. An additional Rs 14.73 lakh in cash was recovered from a location in Gurgaon. The agency's analysis of data from banks, insurance firms, and their departments reportedly points to illicit enrichment by Vishal Deep during his public service tenure, with his brother Vikas allegedly aiding through family bank accounts.
Background: Previous Arrest and Bribery Allegations
This fresh case comes just a month after the Supreme Court granted bail to Vishal Deep. He was initially arrested by the CBI for allegedly soliciting bribes from administrators of two private colleges in Himachal Pradesh. The bribery accusations are linked to an investigation into the Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam.
Complaints were filed by Bhupinder Kumar Sharma of Dev Bhumi Group of Institutions, Una, and Rajneesh Bansal of Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions, Sirmour. They alleged that bribes of Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh, respectively, were demanded to avoid arrest in the ongoing ED and CBI probes. Furthermore, in a separate incident, Vishal Deep was arrested by Panchkula police in January on charges of extortion from Mumbai.
Accusations and Counter-Allegations
In its FIR, the CBI stated that Vishal Deep, who was serving as an Assistant Director at the ED's Shimla branch, acquired and spent assets that far exceeded his known income during the 2024 period. The agency claims Vikas Deep abetted this process.
However, Vishal Deep has contested the charges. In an anticipatory bail application filed before the Chandigarh CBI court in January, he alleged victimization. He claimed he was falsely implicated because he was conducting a discreet enquiry into alleged illegal acts by CBI officials. His application stated that the corruption case was a tactic to shield senior CBI officers and the complainants involved in corrupt activities.
The legal battle continues as the CBI proceeds with this new case, adding another layer to the complex saga of allegations and counter-allegations between two of India's premier investigative agencies.
