SC/ST Scholarship Scam Case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Dehradun, has taken a significant step in the SC/ST Scholarship Scam case by provisionally attaching an immovable property valued at around Rs. 1 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The property, in the form of land and building situated in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, belongs to the Vardhman Educational Society, which operates the Institute of Management Studies and IMS Institute of Technology in Roorkee.
This action comes in the wake of ED’s investigation initiated based on an FIR registered by the P.S, SIDCUL, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, against members of the Vardhman Educational Society. The probe revealed that both institutes fraudulently obtained a significant amount of scholarship meant for SC/ST students from the Social Welfare Department, Haridwar, between 2013-14 and 2016-17.
It was discovered that false claims were made to obtain scholarships under the SC/ST Scholarship Scheme, and the funds, in the form of personal expenses and tuition fees, were credited into the college’s account. Subsequently, the amount was siphoned off by the Chairman and other members of the Vardhman Educational Society, resulting in a substantial financial loss to the public exchequer.
Further investigation by the ED uncovered that the ill-gotten money was diverted to the bank accounts of the Vardhman Educational Society or other college accounts. These funds were then utilized for the personal expenses of the trustees or withdrawn in cash, indicating a deliberate attempt to conceal the fraudulent activities.
The provisional attachment of the property marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the SC/ST Scholarship Scam, demonstrating ED’s commitment to combating financial crimes and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
