Court grants bail to 6 accused in Jai Bhim Pratibha Vikas Yojana Scheme Scam

New Delhi: A Delhi court has granted bail to six accused persons arrested in connection with an alleged Rs 37.2-crore scam linked to the Delhi govt’s Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana, reiterating that “bail is the rule and jail is an exception”.

The case, registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in 2025, stems from a complaint by the Department for the Welfare of SCs, STs and OBCs, which alleged large-scale irregularities by empanelled coaching institutes in claiming funds under the scheme during the 2018-19 period.

Earlier this month, the ACB arrested nine owners, directors and associates of coaching institutes. Special Judge Ruchi Aggarwal Asrani heard separate bail applications filed by Ravindra Singh Jadon, Harshit, Azad Kalet, Sanjeev Kumar, Narendra Kumar Gupta and Jeetender Kumar.

According to the prosecution, Jadon was director of Ravindra Institute of Indian Civil Services (OPC) Pvt Ltd, Harshit ran Momentum NEET IIT Academy, Kalet operated Takshila Institute, Kumar ran Prayas Institute, Gupta was director of Takshila Academy Pvt Ltd, while Jeetender Kumar ran an NGO, Pahal, in Rohini, allegedly linked illegally with Kiran Institute.

The scheme, launched in 2017, provides coaching fees to empanelled institutes and stipends to eligible students through the Department for the Welfare of SC/ST.

The prosecution alleged that the institutes failed to open mandatory separate bank accounts and received several crores under the scheme. It further alleged duplication of students, forged signatures, retrospective attendance marking, non-payment of stipends despite release of funds and claims for students who did not attend or had withdrawn from classes.

Granting bail, the court noted “the presumption of innocence and said the accused could not be detained as a punitive measure”.

“In such circumstances, bail cannot be denied to the accused as a punishment when he would be facing the trial in accordance with law,” the court said. It further observed that they could not be kept in jail indefinitely merely because employees and students were yet to be examined.

Observing that they had been in judicial custody since April 30, 2026, and were not required for further investigation, the court granted bail on personal bonds of Rs 1 lakh each with one surety.