The Bureau of Investigation (Economic Offences) of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday registered a case against former chief minister Digvijay Singh and the then technical education minister Raja Pateria for allegedly misusing their official position and unduly favouring a private institute, RKDF.
RKDF chairman Sunil Kapoor has also been made an accused in the case.
Notably, a local journalist, Radha Vallabh Sharda, had filed a complaint with the EOW alleging financial wrongdoing by Digvijay, Pateria and the owner of the RKDF group of institutions, Sunil Kapoor. later, a preliminary enquiry was registered by the EOW. Besides, Sharda had also filed a private case in court in the same matter but later withdrew it by moving an application in the court on October 29, 2015.
On the application, the court had directed the Bureau to consider its previous directions regarding investigation in the case should be considered as cancelled.
However, the Bureau taking cognizance of the corruption, continued its investigation and on Thursday registered a case under sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120 B of the IPC and sections 13 (i) d and 13 (ii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.
Singh and Pateria have been accused of reducing the penalty on RKDF College from Rs 24 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh.
SP of State Bureau of Investigation Shashikant Shukla told The Pioneer that in this particular case, Sharda acted as a whistleblower as he, despite not being affected party, brought the irregularity to the knowledge of the Bureau.
“On this, after investigation, when it was found that irregularities were committed, it was mandatory for the Bureau to take action," he added.