PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / DEHRADUN
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Dehradun has attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 13.83 crore in connection with the SC/ST scholarship scam in Uttarakhand. The action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as part of an ongoing investigation into the misuse of scholarship funds meant for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students.
As per the ED officials, several private educational institutions allegedly obtained scholarship funds by showing fake, ineligible and non-verifiable students as beneficiaries. The investigation found that 6,208 scholarship claims had been processed between 2011 and 2017, resulting in the release of about Rs 27.98 crore. Out of these, 2,895 claims were found to be fraudulent, involving around Rs 13.83 crore.
The institutions under investigation include Motherhood Institute of Management and Technology in Roorkee, Roorkee Institute of Management Sciences (RIMS) in Haridwar and Mahaveer Institute of Technology in Meerut. The ED said many students listed in scholarship records were either absent, not enrolled in universities, academically ineligible, or could not be traced.
The probe also revealed that bank accounts had been opened in the names of students but were allegedly controlled by college management and staff. Scholarship funds were reportedly transferred back to institutions or withdrawn in cash. Investigators found that the money was routed through various societies, trusts and related entities before being used to purchase assets and properties.
As part of the latest action, the ED has attached fixed deposits, land parcels and educational buildings located in Haridwar and Roorkee. Officials said the investigation into the scholarship scam has been continuing since 2020. So far, the ED has filed five prosecution complaints and issued six provisional attachment orders in the case. Further investigation is underway.
