Srinagar, Nov 29 (KNS): Stating that the special teams have been dispatched to many states for investigating the Prime Ministers special scholarship Scheme (PMSS) fraud, the Crime Branch (CB) State Chief Tuesday said that it has got vital leads into the scam and that it will soon crack the case.
“The investigation is on in the PMSS scam. I want to inform you that during the investigation crime branch found involvement of many colleges of other states. We have dispatched teams to investigate further and I assure you that whosoever will be found involved in this fraud, will be booked under the law,” Muneer Khan IG Crime told KNS over phone from Jammu.
He said that the Crime have collected some evidence about the involvement of some individuals of state, including some outsiders for cheating the students after promising them admissions in different colleges under PMSS scheme. “We have got some vital leads in this case,” the IG said.
He further said that several students have recorded their statements with the crime branch. “During the investigations we have found that hundreds of students have been cheated under scheme and have been fraudulently provided admission under Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS),”
A case was registered in Crime Branch Kashmir regarding the involvement of various NGOs and consultancies who duped the students of J&K seeking scholarships under the scheme.
Khan added that the Crime Branch has found that NGOs, Private Organizations having duped several thousand youngsters of money worth lakhs on the pretext of getting them admitted in various colleges under PMSS. “They misled and used students for their own benefits. Even we found that some established NGOs, who host large scale events are suspected to be involved,” he said and added that action will be taken against the culprits.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
He again appealed all those students who were cheated by NGOs and consultancies on the pretext of granting admission under the Prime Minister's Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) to record their statements. “I appeal all those students and their parents who were given admissions in different colleges and universities under Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme by various NGOs and Consultancies but who could not take the benefits from the scheme as they were cheated to report to Crime Branch, Kashmir and record their statements with the investigating officers.”
He said though no official involvement has come to the fore but the Crime Branch is also investigating the possibility of some official being involved. “Though the case will take some more time but FIRs would be lodged against those involved in the scam.”
It is to mention here that the Crime Branch has registered a case against at least four NGOs and owners of few consultancies for duping Kashmiri students under PMSS scheme.
The Crime Branch had received complaint from Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Higher Education department that the students of JK have been cheated by extorting the money on the pretext of the centrally sponsored schemes and accordingly the crime branch started the investigations.
The PMSSS was launched in 2011 by Union Human Resource Development ministry to grant scholarships to the J&K students for pursuing studies in various institutions of the country.
Scores of Kashmiri students were barred from entering into classes after these NGOs and consultancies failed to pay the fees to these colleges under the PMSSS. (KNS)