The CBI investigation revealed that nearly 150 colleges submitted fake FDRs amounting to `200 crore.
The All India Council for Technical Education has issued show cause notices to 160 engineering colleges in the state for submitting fake fixed deposit receipts (FDRs) and for failing to comply with several rules on faculty and infrastructure. AICTE grants approval for new colleges provided the colleges have fulfilled all the conditions.
This follows the recommendation of the Central Bureau of Investigation, which has inspected hundreds of colleges in the state since August last year.
The CBI investigation revealed that nearly 150 colleges in the state submitted fake FDRs amounting Rs 200 crore. The investigation countrywide unearthed a fraud of Rs 450 crore.
The FD required to start a new college was Rs 35 lakh, later increased to Rs 50 lakh. The FD required to Jan. 25: The FD required to start a new engineering college was `35 lakh, later it was increased to `50 lakh.
While some colleges submitted fake FD receipts, others withdrew the money from the bank without the AICTE’s knowledge, through fraudulent means by submitting “coloured photocopies” of FDRs to the AICTE.
The CBI inspected nearly 400 engineering colleges in and around the city since August last year, when it arrested the then AICTE member secretary, Mr Narayan Rao, who was caught accepting a bribe of `5 lakh from the management of an engineering college to grant approval.
The CBI probe unearthed all kinds of chicanery in several engineering colleges pertaining to faculty and infrastructure. In order to get permission to operate, several colleges had submitted fake faculty lists, fake photos of the college building and were operating from temporary accommodation for several years, which was against the rules.
The notice sent by AICTE asks the 160 colleges to show why approval granted to them should not be withdrawn. Several colleges were not paying salaries regularly to their staff for several months despite collecting fees from students.
“We have given them two weeks to respond to our notices. Their explanations will be examined and action will be taken accordingly.
In serious cases, we will book criminal cases,” said Prof. S.S. Mantha, chairman, AICTE.
The college managements are said to be approaching various ministers urging them to speak to the Union HRD ministry to let them off the hook.
What are you guys for? Just giving information? Dont you guys have the guts to take it up with AICTE to curb corruption. Or will you too get sold?
Catch KVK, Rao of St. Mary’s Engineering college, near Ramoji film city, by the neck and question him. He is the biggest fraud in AP. And ironically, the fellow is the chairman of the AP engg. colleges forum or association. Only to cover up his cheating tactics. Raid his house and his colleges and arrest his accomplice subramaniam. You will know the truth.