ED Attaches 3 Immovable Properties Of BMS Trust In Engineering Seat Blocking Scam

BENGALUR: After conducting searches at various places belonging to BMS-controlled engineering colleges in June last year in connection with the seat blocking scam in Bengaluru, Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths temporarily annexed 3 immovable properties, including the Bengaluru zonal office, a plot and two flats with a market value of Rs 19.46 crore.

Case of seat blocking scam in admission to engineering seats through the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) and collection of cash in addition to the fees fixed during the admission process.

The additions were made by the ED on January 21 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and the ED started the engineering seat blocking investigation on the basis of Malleshwaram police and Hanumanthanagar police of Bengaluru city.

During the searches conducted by ED on June 25 and 25 last year, it was revealed that the quotas in the engineering faculties run by the BMS Education Foundation were sold by the university administration through intermediaries and agencies.

The cash was collected by the BMS Education Foundation management directly from students and also through representatives acting as educational consultants. The cash collected was not disclosed in the BMS Education Foundation’s account book. An investigation by ED detectives revealed that money from the sale of engineering chairs was used for the personal benefit of the BMS Education Foundation.

ED said in a press release that the evidence collected included milk notes. Whatsapp chats include conversations between university staff, management staff, agencies involved among others, confirmed by those involved in the same incident.

Earlier, ED detectives had seized Rs 1.86 million from the premises belonging to the BMS Educational Trust board of trustees/management and its agencies. Further evidence of unaccounted cash collection of Rs 20.20 crore from sale of engineering seats in engineering colleges controlled by BMS Education Trust was seized.