Summary
A special court in Chandigarh has handed over two key suspects to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning. The suspects include Amit Dewan, a high-ranking finance director at a state power company, and Vikram Wadhwa, a businessman. They are allegedly involved in a financial fraud case worth Rs 75 crore. This case centers on the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society, also known as CREST. The court's decision allows investigators to look deeper into how public money was moved and hidden.
Main Impact
The decision to grant the CBI custody of these individuals marks a major turning point in a large-scale corruption probe. By taking over the case from the local police, the CBI is now looking at a web of illegal money transfers that involve multiple government departments. This action sends a strong message that financial crimes involving public funds will be handled by the highest investigative levels. The focus is now on finding out who else helped move the money and where the final payments ended up.
Key Details
What Happened
The CBI recently took control of two major fraud cases that were originally being handled by the Chandigarh Police. One case involves a Rs 116-crore scam related to the Chandigarh Smart City project. The second case, which led to the recent court order, involves a Rs 75-crore scam at CREST. Investigators believe that Amit Dewan, who served as the Director of Finance for the Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL), played a central role in moving these funds illegally.
Important Numbers and Facts
The investigation has uncovered several specific illegal transactions. Between June and August 2025, more than Rs 2.53 crore was moved from CREST into HPGCL accounts, specifically those meant for pension funds and ash management. Even more surprising is that over Rs 29 crore was moved in the opposite direction, from HPGCL funds back into CREST accounts. These back-and-forth transfers are often used in financial crimes to make it harder for auditors to track the original source of the money. The CBI also claims that Dewan received illegal cash payments through employees working for another suspect in the case.
Background and Context
To understand this case, it is important to know what these organizations do. CREST is a government body in Chandigarh that works on green energy and solar power projects. HPGCL is the company responsible for producing electricity for the state of Haryana. Because these are government-linked groups, they handle large amounts of taxpayer money meant for public services. When money is moved between these groups without proper reason, it suggests that people in high positions may be using their power to steal from the public. This specific scam was first noticed by the Economic Offences Wing of the local police before the CBI was asked to step in due to the size and complexity of the crime.
Public or Industry Reaction
The legal team for the accused men tried to stop the CBI from taking them into custody. They argued that the local police had already questioned the suspects for a long time and that more questioning was not necessary. They claimed that the suspects had already shared what they knew. However, the CBI argued that they need to find the "larger conspiracy." They believe there are more people involved who have not been caught yet. The court agreed with the CBI, stating that the agency needs time to figure out how the money was turned into cash and who the final beneficiaries were.
What This Means Going Forward
In the coming days, the CBI will focus on the paper trail of the Rs 75 crore. They will look at bank records and digital footprints to see exactly how the money moved through different accounts. This investigation is likely to lead to more arrests if other officials or business owners are found to be involved. The CBI is also looking into the Rs 116-crore Smart City scam at the same time. Since both cases involve similar groups and people, investigators want to see if the two scams are linked. This could reveal a much larger system of corruption within the region's government projects.
Final Take
This case shows how difficult it can be to protect public money when those in charge of the finances are the ones accused of the crime. The move by the CBI to take over the investigation suggests that the scale of the fraud is much bigger than first thought. As the agency continues its work, the focus will remain on recovering the lost funds and ensuring that those who misused their power are held responsible. For the public, it is a reminder that transparency in government spending is vital to prevent such large amounts of money from disappearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CREST scam?
It is a financial fraud case involving the illegal transfer of approximately Rs 75 crore from a renewable energy society in Chandigarh into various other accounts and cash payments.
Who are the main suspects in this update?
The main suspects are Amit Dewan, a finance director for a state power company, and Vikram Wadhwa, a businessman. Both are currently in CBI custody for questioning.
Why did the CBI take over the case?
The case was transferred from the local police to the CBI because of its complexity and the large amount of money involved. The CBI has more resources to track international or multi-state financial crimes.
