Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Police has strongly refuted allegations made by former Director General of Police (DGP) SR Mardi regarding an alleged delay in the registration of the Manav Bharti University fake degree case, asserting that the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CID) completed its enquiry within a week and promptly recommended registration of an FIR.
In an official statement issued on Monday, the state police maintained that the CID had acted swiftly after receiving directions from the then DGP and had submitted a detailed enquiry report, along with a draft FIR, for approval in early March 2020. The police claimed that the subsequent course of action was based on directions issued by the then DGP himself.
However, responding to the police statement, former DGP SR Mardi maintained that there was no delay in registering the case and pointed out that two FIRs had already been lodged, while the delay mentioned in the FIR related to events spanning more than two years.
Police Details Timeline of CID Investigation
According to the Himachal Pradesh Police, the sequence of events began on February 27, 2020, when then DGP SR Mardi forwarded a complaint received from the Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission to the Crime Branch-CID.
The complaint pertained to alleged irregularities involving fake degrees issued by Manav Bharti University.
The police said Mardi instructed the Crime Branch-CID to conduct an enquiry and register an FIR if a cognisable offence was found during the investigation.
Acting on these directions, the Crime Branch immediately constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of the then Superintendent of Police V. Kalia on the very same day.
CID Completed Enquiry Within a Week
According to the police, the SIT completed its preliminary enquiry within one week by collecting relevant documents and evidence.
Following the enquiry, the team prepared a comprehensive report recommending registration of an FIR at the Police Station CID Crime, Bharari.
The statement further said that the SIT also prepared a draft FIR and submitted the complete case file to the then DGP on March 4, 2020, seeking approval for registration of the case.
Police Say DGP Ordered Different Course of Action
The Himachal Pradesh Police stated that instead of approving the FIR proposed by the SIT, the then DGP directed that the enquiry records and recommendations be forwarded to the Superintendent of Police, Solan, for further action.
According to the police, Mardi subsequently instructed the then SP, Solan, to register an FIR at Dharampur Police Station in Solan district based on directions issued from the Police Headquarters rather than on the enquiry report and recommendations prepared by the CID.
The police maintained that this sequence of events demonstrates that the CID had acted promptly and fulfilled its responsibilities without delay.
Former DGP SR Mardi Rejects Delay Allegations
Reacting to the police statement, former DGP SR Mardi defended his actions and rejected allegations that there had been any delay in initiating criminal proceedings.
He maintained that two FIRs were registered without delay in connection with the case.
Mardi also pointed out that the period of delay referred to in the FIR itself related to alleged offences committed over a period exceeding two years, suggesting that the reference was connected to the nature of the alleged offences rather than any delay in police action.
Background of the Case
The Manav Bharti University fake degree case is one of Himachal Pradesh’s most significant education-related fraud investigations.
The case involves allegations regarding the issuance of fake and irregular academic degrees by the private university, leading to extensive investigations by the Crime Branch-CID.
Over the years, the investigation has resulted in multiple criminal proceedings and has drawn considerable public attention due to the alleged scale of the irregularities and their impact on higher education standards.
The latest exchange between the Himachal Pradesh Police and former DGP SR Mardi centres on the timeline of the initial enquiry and FIR registration, with both sides presenting differing versions of the events that unfolded in early 2020.
