‘Assets 231.4% more than source of income’: CBI registers case against former ED assistant director, names brother as co-accused
The agency, in its enquiry, has also pointed to the recovery of Rs 56.41 lakh in cash, apart from trap money, during the investigation of earlier cases.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against Vishal Deep, former Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and his brother Vikas Deep, a senior manager with Punjab National Bank, in a disproportionate assets (DA) case, alleging illicit enrichment during a short check period in 2024.
The case was registered on Tuesday a month after the Supreme Court had granted bail to Vishal, who was earlier arrested by the CBI for allegedly seeking bribes from two private college administrators during a probe into the Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam. In January, he was arrested by the Panchkula police on charges of extortion from Mumbai.
According to the FIR registered by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Chandigarh, the case stems from a preliminary enquiry that revealed prima facie evidence against Vishal, who was then posted in Shimla. The check period under scrutiny is from March 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, during which the accused allegedly amassed assets far beyond his known and lawful sources of income.
The FIR has been registered under Sections 12, 13(2) read with 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). The complaint was filed following the conclusion of a detailed preliminary enquiry initiated as an offshoot of earlier trap cases registered in 2024, in which substantial unaccounted cash and incriminating documents were recovered.
As per the FIR, Vishal and his brother Vikas are alleged to have acquired disproportionate assets worth approximately Rs 93.24 lakh, translating into 231.48 per cent more than their combined known sources of income during the check period. The CBI’s enquiry details show that while the assets at the beginning of the period stood at Rs 9.20 lakh, assets at the end of the period rose sharply to Rs 44.44 lakh. During the same period, the total income was assessed at Rs 40.28 lakh, whereas expenditure was pegged at Rs 98.29 lakh.
The agency, in its enquiry, has also pointed to the recovery of Rs 56.41 lakh in cash, apart from trap money, during the investigation of earlier cases. Additionally, Rs 14.73 lakh in cash was reportedly recovered from a location in Gurugram, which will be verified during the ongoing probe. The FIR notes that in view of the huge cash recoveries, coupled with suspicious high-value transactions, the bank accounts of family members of the brothers, the role of family members in abetment, if any, cannot be ruled out at this stage. Hence, the role of family members may also be looked into during the course of investigation.
The role of Vikas, the FIR states, emerged as that of an abettor. The preliminary enquiry allegedly found that both brothers used not only their own bank accounts but also accounts of family members to park and rotate illicit funds.
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The CBI in its report has listed significant transactions, including property investments, vehicle purchases, loan repayments, hotel stays, and high-value online payments, as part of the alleged expenditure incurred during the check period.
Both Vishal and Vikas have already been facing charges in an alleged bribery case.
The CBI had registered two FIRs in a bribery case against Vishal after allegations surfaced on December 22, 2024. The duo are presently on bail in the bribery case.
Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula).
Professional Background
Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases.
Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region.
Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns:
1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts
"12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013.
"‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case.
"Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification.
2. Investigative & Scams
"CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus.
"Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh.
3. Environment & Public Safety
"Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities.
"Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos.
4. Gangster Culture & Crime
"City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules.
"Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26.
Signature Style
Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More
