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Agra university blacklists firm previously hired to hold exams
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Agra has blacklisted a Lucknow-based firm after its owner was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. The firm, Digitext Technologies, had been conducting exams at the university. The investigation revealed that answer sheets of some students had been manipulated.
The Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Agra has blacklisted a Lucknow-based firm that until last year had been holding exams at the varsity.
The recent move came after the firm’s (Digitext Technologies) owner was recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case registered in cognisance of a FIR lodged against the company for allegedly manipulating answer sheets of candidates in exchange for money.
Prior to his arrest, David Mario Denis, who ran Digitext that conducted examinations at the Agra university between 2015 and 2022, had lodged a complaint against the vice chancellor of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur in 2014-15 and his close aide Ajay Mishra for holding him captive and demanding money from him, in Lucknow on October 27, 2022.
A senior ED official confirmed that the university blacklisted the firm on July 25 (Tuesday) after the ED arrested Denis and two others--Rahul Parashar (a student leader from the Samajwadi Party in Agra) and one Devendra Singh--on July 21 in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case registered against them.
He said the ED investigation revealed that the answer sheets of some MBBS and Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) students were found to have been altered.
He said the ED had conducted raids on June 12 at the ‘hideouts’ and premises of Prashar, Denis and employees of the latter’s company who were found involved in the offence. He said the doctored answer sheets were seized along with various other evidence against the firm.
“At present, all three accused are in seven days of ED custody of the ED that will end on Friday (July 28),” he added.
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Ex-BSP MLC illegally acquired ₹54.2 crore assets in Dehradun: ED
The officials said investigation revealed that the Iqbal acquired proceeds of crime to the tune of ₹ 54.21 crore by way of his firm BSS Associates Private Limited. They said the ED had prayed for confiscation of Iqbal’s land situated in Dehradun in the complaint.
A senior ED official said the investigation conducted against the former MLC led to the identification of immovable properties (seven sugar mills). He said the money generated through illegal mining activities was laundered through various legal entities, under the control of the former MLC and his family members.
