Fake students given Himachal Pradesh scholarship: CBI probe

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 16

The CBI investigation into the Rs 250 crore scholarship scam in Himachal Pradesh has found that the lists of students submitted by the KC Group of Institutions, Una, were fake and there were no real beneficiaries from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Class communities.

The startling fact surfaced following the CBI team’s visit to Bharmaur, Pangi, Chamba, Kangra, Banjar and Manali, wherein they found that nearly 1,000 students listed by the KC Group of Institutions did not exist on ground. The institution had taken scholarship money amounting to Rs 20-25 crore by showing fake students between 2012 and 2017. The same students were shown in Pandoga in Una as well as Nawanshahr in Punjab.

Though it is the duty of the institution concerned to give correct details, apparent nexus between private institutions and some education department officials put the lid on the scam, sources said. The CBI has filed a chargesheet against 12 persons, including six Education Department officials and five functionaries of the KC Group.