Why Vivek Bindra's Students Moved Supreme Court Seeking ED, CBI Probe Against Him
Supreme Court issued notice to Centre, 13 states, CBI and ED in case against Vivek Bindra. From running Ponzi scheme to misleading students, here's all you need to know about case against him:
The Supreme Court recently issued notice to the Centre, 13 state governments, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a petition seeking a probe into alleged fraud by motivational speaker Dr Vivek Bindra and his company, Bada Business Private Limited.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti on February 26 heard the case and issued notices seeking response from Centre, 13 state governments, CBI and ED.
Vivek Bindra's name courted controversy after another motivational speaker Sandeep Maheshwari released a video titled ‘Big Scam Exposed.' Maheshwari did not name Bindra, but spoke extensively about his business model. Around the same time in December 2023, Bindra's wife's video who was hospitalised also surfaced on social media alleging domestic abuse against him.
What Is the Case Against Vivek Bindra?
The petitioners have said that Bindra is a self-proclaimed motivational speaker, who along with his marketing team deceived the Petitioners and other thousands of youngsters, who hail from over a dozen different states from all over India.
It is alleged that Bindra uses names of well known personalities on his websites, in banner advertisements and extensively markets the same by falsely representing that the said known personalities will be “Professors” in the paid courses run under the banner of Bada Business and Vivek Bindra.
The petitioners said that Bindra runs extensive advertisements on various social media platforms with the sole purpose of enrolling the youngsters for a course. It is alleged that his course "misleadingly promised" to train the enrolled candidates in building a successful business through which one could earn anywhere between Rs 15,000 and Rs 100,000 per month, failing which Bindra promised to refund the entire fee.
Tricked Students Through Ponzi Scheme:
The petitioner in his complaint to the local police authorities alleged that Vivek Bindra tricked people into giving him their money through a Ponzi scheme that promised big returns. The petitioners told court that Bindra lures innocent youngsters by running a 10-day MBA program and promising to refund money charged in the MBA course if the students are unable to make Rs 15,000 to Rs 100,000 per month.
According to the petitioner who was also one of the student in Bindra's course, when he asked for refund after the course, Bindra's team said that the way of making money (Rs 15,000 to Rs 100,000 per month) is by becoming commission agents for Bindra and sell the same course to others and earning a commission on each enrolment. The petition also attaches a WhatsApp reply by Bindra's team to the aggrieved student.
The petitioners have said that this is just like a money chain transaction in disguise, where students are promised courses in Business, but they are expected to sell Bindra's "illegal" Course to more people.
Why CBI And ED Enquiry?
According to the petitioners, multiple complaints have been filed with the police in their home states, however till date no action has been taken by either of the state agencies.
"It is respectfully submitted that the above mentioned fraud team had duped numerous numbers of people and collected many crores of rupees by duping the innocent individuals. In view of these facts and circumstances it is imperative to direct the central government to look into the multiple complaints and constitute a dedicated special investigation team to investigate and register appropriate legal proceedings..." the petitioners demanded.
The Petitioners have filed an instant Petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, praying for the directions to the Union of India Ministry of Home to constitute a special investigation team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the large-scale, nationwide scam perpetrated and done by Bindra and Bada Business Pvt Ltd whereby he has duped and cheated the petitioners and other general public.
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