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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made significant strides in the investigation of the Uttar Pradesh post-matric scholarship scam, with the agency announcing the attachment of properties worth ₹ 5.7 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Properties Linked to SS Institute of Management
Location: The attached properties are the college buildings of the SS Institute of Management situated in the Baksi Ka Talab area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh’s capital, according to the ED.
Total Attachments: This recent attachment marks the fourth instance in the case, bringing the total accumulated attachments to ₹ 15.7 crore, as stated by the agency.
Scam Details
Modus Operandi: The ED highlighted that the chairman of the SS group, Praveen Chauhan, along with Ishrat Zafari of the Hagia Group of institutes and staff, allegedly fabricated fake documents for hundreds of students.
Misappropriated Funds: The group purportedly availed ₹ 7.40 crore in scholarship funds from the government by using these fraudulent documents, of which properties worth ₹ 1.7 crore have already been attached.
Investigation Unveils Scheme
Initiation of Probe: The ED’s investigation stemmed from intelligence and an FIR lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police, revealing a scheme where managers and trustees of colleges admitted fake students.
Scholarship Embezzlement: Scholarships meant for the underprivileged were allegedly siphoned off, totaling over ₹ 100 crore, according to the ED’s findings.
Utilization of Funds: The misappropriated funds were reportedly used for land purchases, construction, and other personal purposes, depriving genuine and deserving students of their rightful benefits.
Legal Proceedings
Accused Arrests: Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the case and are currently in judicial custody.
Attachment Orders: Three provisional attachment orders worth ₹ 10 crore have been issued previously, attaching immovable and movable properties belonging to managers and trustees of various colleges.
Court Proceedings
Prosecution Complaints: The ED has filed one prosecution complaint and two supplementary prosecution complaints against five accused persons before the Special (PMLA) Court.
