EOW arrests ex-principal in Rs 25 crore scholarship scam | Lucknow News
Lucknow: The Economic Offences Wing of UP arrested Dinesh Kumar, alias Dinesh Chandra, former principal of Lalaram Inter College, Madhuri Agsauli, Sikandra Rao, Hathras. The arrest on Saturday followed the principal being accused of Rs 25-crore embezzlement. He was arrested under special operation ‘Abhiyan Shikanja’ overseen by the EOW DGP.The scam dates back to academic sessions of 2011-12 and 2012-13, during which state govt had allocated substantial funds for pre-matric scholarships to minority students up to class 8. Investigations revealed that 62 educational institutions and madrassas, in collusion with then minority welfare officer of Hathras and other accomplices, siphoned off funds using fake names and requisition forms. The total amount embezzled stands at Rs 24,92,76,312.The investigation began in 2014 at Mursan police station, Hathras, where a case was registered under various sections 409, 419, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of IPC, along with sections 204, 120-B, and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Given the gravity of the case, the investigation was transferred to the Economic Offences Wing, which uncovered the full extent of the scam.The EOW’s comprehensive investigation identified 81 individuals involved in the scam, including three govt officials and 78 private individuals. So far, charge sheets were filed against 46 accused in court, while efforts were on to apprehend the remaining 34.College ex-principal Dinesh Kumar, who was arrested, is accused of preparing fraudulent list of minority students to claim Rs 10 lakh in scholarship funds, which he embezzled. The EOW team apprehended him on Friday in Sikandra Rao, Hathras.
