By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 21 Jul: More details have emerged regarding a major scam involving fraudulent scholarship claims under the central government’s Minority Scholarship Portal in the state. While a probe in this connection is already underway, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered an extensive investigation into 17 suspect institutions. Preliminary findings have revealed that forged documents were used to siphon off approximately Rs 1 crore in scholarship funds, creating serious concerns about the functioning of institutions and administrative oversight.
Sources claim that, of the 92 institutions from Uttarakhand registered on the portal, 17 have been flagged as suspicious by the central authorities and referred to the state government for verification. It may be reminded here that the scholarship funds are transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts upon registration of educational institutions on the portal, making authenticity crucial.
Specific references were made to Saraswati Shishu Mandir High School in Kichha, Udham Singh Nagar, and Vasukedar Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya in Rudraprayag, which were reportedly operated by individuals who had misrepresented community affiliation for fraudulent purposes. Interestingly, these apparently Hindu sounding institutions were being run by people from the Muslim Community.
In Kichha, it was alleged that individuals named Mohammad Sharik and Atiq were operating institutions in name of Saraswati Shishu Mandir, and that, out of 796 listed students, 456 have turned out to be fake. Similarly, the Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya in Rudraprayag reportedly registered scholarship claims for Muslim female students allegedly belonging to the 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, raising further doubts about the institution’s legitimacy.
Sources claim that the scam appears to have involved the uploading of forged Aadhaar documents to claim scholarships under minority quotas, and the suspected institutions have been labelled as fictitious fronts primarily operated to defraud the system. Initial scrutiny indicates that many of these establishments were registered as madrasas or Muslim minority schools, though further investigation is expected to determine the full extent of the malpractice.
Since this fraud has been going on for some time, the role of the officials from local minority welfare and social welfare departments has also come under investigation, with possibilities of collusion not being ruled out. The central government has sought a deep probe based on seven specific parameters and directed that First Information Reports (FIRs) be filed against those involved in the malpractice. Legal provisions under the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 420 and 468 pertaining to cheating and forgery, may be invoked depending on the evidence collected during the inquiry. Regulatory audits may also be undertaken under the Prevention of Corruption Act if departmental complicity is established.
Special Secretary, Minority Welfare, Parag Madhukar Dhakate has confirmed that, following directives from the Centre, district administrations have begun detailed verification exercises. Both the central and state governments are reportedly working in coordination to unravel the broader network of fraudulent claims, and to strengthen safeguards within the scholarship distribution process.
