By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 4 Jun: The Enforcement Directorate has filed a prosecution complaint against two accused in the DAV PG College scholarship scam case in Dehradun. The charge-sheet, submitted before the special PMLA court, names Piyush Chandra Bhatnagar and Ranjana Rawat for alleged offences of money laundering. Investigations revealed that crores of rupees meant for scholarships of SC, ST and OBC students were misappropriated through unauthorised bank accounts and diverted for personal use.
According to the ED, between 2009 and 2014, scholarship funds were deposited into an unauthorised account instead of the designated college account. Around Rs 2.27 crores, including transfers from other college accounts and accrued interest, were found deposited. The college management committee had permitted opening of an account in the Lakshmi Road branch of the bank, but documents were allegedly manipulated to open another account in the GMS Road branch.
The probe established that college employee Piyush Chandra Bhatnagar operated the unauthorised account with associates and systematically transferred scholarship funds elsewhere. From this account, Rs 42.50 lakhs were withdrawn in cash, Rs 66.50 lakhs through cheques issued to different individuals, and Rs 99.43 lakhs directly transferred into Bhatnagar’s personal accounts. The money was subsequently rotated across multiple accounts and used for personal expenditure, cash withdrawals and other financial transactions.
The role of Ranjana Rawat, authorised signatory of college accounts and scholarship coordinator, also came under scrutiny. The ED found that she had signed several blank cheques which were later used to withdraw scholarship funds and transfer them into different accounts, thereby facilitating illegal transactions.
Investigations further revealed that part of the proceeds of crime was invested in insurance policies, bank deposits and movable assets. Policies were purchased in the names of the accused and their family members, and a Honda Activa H Smart (125 cc) scooter was also bought. Assets worth Rs 7.86 lakhs have been attached.
On the basis of bank records, documentary evidence and statements recorded under Section 50 of PMLA, the ED has charged both accused under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the special court at Dehradun.
