The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR in the alleged minority scholarship scam. The charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and using forged documents. Recently, in the investigation of the ministry, it was revealed that this scam has happened in 21 states.
The probe revealed that a total of 830 bogus institutions were availing benefits under the scheme, causing a loss of around Rs 144 crore to the minority ministry between 2017 and 2022. These scholarships come under DBT schemes and the scholarship amount comes directly into the bank account of the students.
Third party evaluation NSPR appointed
Considering reports of embezzlement of funds under scholarship schemes, the ministry has appointed National Council of Applied Economic Research (NSPR) for third party evaluation of scholarship schemes.
Ministry had identified 1,572 institutions
In addition, the Ministry also carried out evaluation through the National Scoring Portal (NSP) by generating red flags on suspicious institutions/applicants. In its complaint, the ministry had said that a total of 1,572 institutions were identified for evaluation on the basis of red flags generated on NSP. Of these, 830 institutes were found to be fake.
Loss of more than 144 crores
An official said that fake scholarships worth more than 144 crores were taken in 830 minority institutions in just 5 years in 21 states across the country. He told that the FIR has been registered against unknown persons of banks, institutions and others.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registers case against unknown officials in connection with alleged minority scholarship scam of Rs 144 crores
— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2023
65 lakh students get scholarship
Let us tell you that the central government gives pre-matric scholarship, post-matric scholarship and scholarship to six minority communities every year under merit-cum-means to about 65 lakh students. These include students from Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis.
