Scholarship scam: Six more paramedical colleges under scanner

The Lokayukta police investigating the multi-crore scholarship scam in paramedical colleges has put six more colleges under its scanner and an FIR is likely against one of these colleges within a fortnight.

The Lokayukta police investigating the multi-crore scholarship scam in paramedical colleges has put six more colleges under its scanner and an FIR is likely against one of these colleges within a fortnight. So far, the Lokayukta police has registered 16 cases in this connection.

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Sources in the Lokayukta said the paramedical colleges under the scanner include Sanskar Vidyapeeth, Sweta Academy, Parijat College, Keshav Paramedical College, Aspire Institute of Paramedical Science and Ascent Institute.

Sources said investigations into the Sanskar Vidyapeeth are more or less complete and the FIR is likely within a fortnight.

The scam broke out following an investigation launched by the district panchayat CEO Ashish Singh and the Lokayukta registered cases against the owners/directors of paramedical colleges, students, members of the tribal welfare department and bank officials 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.

16 separate FIRs registered
Lokayukta police Indore has so far registered 16 separate FIRs against officials of tribal welfare department, directors of paramedic colleges, bank officials and students.

They were accused of flouting rules and illegally taking multiple scholarships earmarked by the government for scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other backward class students.

There are more than 30 private paramedical colleges which offer postmatric, graduate and postgraduate course to the students. Under the government scheme, scholarships are given to students belonging to scheduled tribes, scheduled castes and other backward classes whose parents' monthly income is less than Rs 2 lakh a year.