Chandigarh [India], December 24 (HBTV): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Chandigarh has registered a fresh corruption case against a former Enforcement Directorate (ED) official, accusing him and his brother of amassing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
The accused have been identified as Vishal Deep, a former Assistant Director in the ED, and his brother Vikas Deep. The case was registered following a complaint filed on December 22, 2025, by Arun Ahlawat, an Inspector with the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch in Chandigarh. Investigators have flagged a substantial disparity between Vishal Deep’s lawful income and the assets allegedly accumulated by the two brothers. The assets are stated to have surfaced during earlier investigations related to bribery allegations and cash trap cases.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has disposed of proceedings in the Sandesara matter after recording full compliance with its earlier directions regarding the deposit of funds and settlement with lender banks.
The petitioners informed the Court that they had complied with its November 19 order by depositing a total amount of INR 51,11,43,36,390.40, including an additional sum deposited as a measure of abundant caution. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioners along with advocate Hemant Shah, confirmed the compliance during the hearing.
A Bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi noted that the Court’s office report dated December 16 had verified the deposit and that the Additional Solicitor General had not disputed the compliance. In view of this, the Court directed the Registrar (Judicial Administration) to disburse INR 5,100 crore to the consortium of lender banks on a proportionate basis, subject to due verification and transfer to their respective accounts.
According to the legal team representing the Sandesara brothers, the original FIR pertained to alleged dues of about INR 5,383 crore, while recoveries effected so far have reached approximately INR 9,800 crore, nearly double the amount cited in the FIR.
With the consent of all parties, the Supreme Court also ordered a complete halt to criminal and enforcement proceedings against the petitioners. It directed that all investigations and proceedings arising from the FIR registered by the CBI, along with cases and attachments initiated by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, proceedings under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, inquiries by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, and matters relating to black money and income tax laws, shall stand quashed.
Clarifying the scope of the closure, the Court said a ‘quietus’ had been reached in the matter and instructed all investigating agencies to formally communicate the closure of proceedings at every level, including to authorities at airports, through the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Bench also accepted the submission that the excess amount deposited beyond INR 5,100 crore, lying with the Bank of Maharashtra’s Supreme Court branch along with accrued interest, be transferred to the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee for utilisation for benevolent purposes at the Committee’s discretion.
In light of the affidavit filed by the petitioners and confirmation of compliance with its directions, the Supreme Court formally closed the proceedings by disposing of the miscellaneous application in satisfaction of its earlier orders. The litigation had originated from multiple writ petitions filed by the Sandesara brothers seeking to quash FIRs, ECIRs, prosecution complaints, attachments and coercive proceedings under various statutes. (ANI)