Post-Matric Scholarship Scam: ED Attaches Private Institute’s Properties Worth Rs 5.7 Crore In Lucknow

The fresh ED actions mark the fourth attachment of properties of the S.S group of institutions in Lucknow.

ED attaches further private institution's properties in Lucknow in scholarship scam ( Image Source :enforcementdirectorate.gov.in )

In a fresh development into the multi-crore post-matric scholarship scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached several properties of the S.S Group of Institutions in Lucknow. The properties have been attached under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in the post-matric scholarship scam. The fresh round of action by the ED into the matter marks the 4th case of attachment of properties of the S.S group of institutions.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached properties worth Rs 5.7 crores under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in Post Matric scholarship scam.

The attached properties are in the form of college buildings of S. S. Institute of…

— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2024

Earlier this month, the Enforcement Directorate also arrested the chairman of a Uttar Pradesh-based management and technology institute from the Lucknow airport in a money laundering probe linked to an alleged Rs 100 crore post-matric scholarship scam, news agency PTI reported. 

Shivam Gupta, chairman of Dr Om Prakash Institute of Management and Technology and three other group colleges and schools were taken into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), an official ED statement was reported as saying into the matter. Despite the issuance of a lookout circular against him, he was not cooperating with the investigation despite multiple summons being issued against him, the statement added further. 

“Managers and trustees of various institutes got fake students admitted to their institutes for namesake and applied for scholarship in their names on the government portal with the sole purpose of wrongful advantage of government schemes which were meant for needy students,” the ED was quoted as saying. 

Notably, earlier last year, the Enforcement Directorate busted a post-matric scholarship scam in Uttar Pardesh worth over Rs 100 crore. Following the surfacing of the scam, several institutions in UP in various areas of the state like Lucknow, Hardoi, Farrukhabad, among others were brought into the radar. While the government’s post-matric scholarship scheme is meant to aid students from poor financial backgrounds, However, institutes under the ED radar for availing the scholarship scheme in the name of several ineligible students.