Scholarship scam: FIR against college, tribal dept officials

The Lokayukta police have registered an FIR against Sanskar Vidyapeeth Paramedical College and officials of tribal welfare department in connection with the multi-crore scholarship scam in paramedical colleges.

The Lokayukta police have registered an FIR against Sanskar Vidyapeeth Paramedical College and officials of tribal welfare department in connection with the multi-crore scholarship scam in paramedical colleges.

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This is the 17th case in this scam that has been registered by the Lokayukta police.

Sources said apart from Sanskar College, the Lokayukta police have shotlisted five other colleges against whom FIRs would be lodged. These colleges are Sweta Academy, Parijat College, Keshav Paramedical College, Aspire Institute of Paramedical Science and Ascent Institute.

According to Lokayukta police, an FIR has been registered against district convenor Ranjana Singh, area convenor KK Yadav, zonal convenor Manohar Singh Chouhan, Sanakar college chairman/director Suresh Seth and college principal under Sections 13 (1) D, 13 (2) Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and 120 B of IPC.

During investigations, the officials found that even though 248 candidates had been admitted in the college in the paramedical course in the 2011-12 session, the college authorities could not produce the admission forms. Also, even though the tribal welfare department had given scholarships to the tune of Rs 47 lakh in one instalment, the college had given the money in two instalments and enjoyed the interest of the amount for around a year.

In some cases, the second instalment of the scholarship was not given to students. Officials of the tribal department were hand in gloves with the college authorities.

The scam broke out following an investigation launched by the district panchayat CEO Ashish Singh and later the Lokayutka registered the cases based on the findings of the district panchayat CEO and also their own investigation.

The Lokayukta registered 10 cases in January, 2014 against 24 people, including officials of tribal welfare department, directors of paramedic colleges, bank officials and students.

The next six cases were registered in July, 2014 against three officials of the tribal welfare department and director/principal of six paramedical colleges.