Scholarship scam: ED raids medical institutes in 4 UP districts

The searches were carried out at institutes in Lucknow, Hardoi, Barabanki and Farukkhabad.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at various medical and pharmaceutical education institutes in four districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, to probe into the alleged embezzlement of government scholarship funds for students. Besides Lucknow, the searches were carried out at institutes in Hardoi, Barabanki and Farukkhabad, officials said, Hindustan Times reported.  

“In Lucknow, the searches were carried out at a private institute of pharmaceutical education and research near Ghaila village on IIM road. ED sleuths collected several documents related to the scholarships,” a source said. 

The police said the ED officials reached the Lucknow institute in around six vehicles and sealed all entry and exit points. Paramilitary force was deployed at these points to avert any trouble during the operation. 

The ED had registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in December 2022 in connection with the scam. Similarly, the search was carried out at another private medical institute located on the Lucknow-Barabanki border and a pharmacy institute in Hardoi. Moreover, a medical institute and hospital of a prominent doctor on Etawah-Bareilly highway in Farrukhabad was also searched. 

A senior government official said the comprehensive searches were planned after multiple ‘scholarship scams’ came to fore. He said it was alleged that the authorities of medical institutes used to embezzle government funds by forging papers of scholarships provided to students enrolled in their institutes. 

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