Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore
Mangalore, May 28: "The seat blocking scam in Karnataka could be worth over Rs 700 crores involving some top engineering and medical colleges across the states," said Yogeesh Shetty Jeppu.
Addressing a press meet here on Wednesday May 28 Shetty said, "More than 200 students could be involved in the scam, hence the Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike has demanded a CBI investigation in this regard."
He said, "16 agents have been arrested along with 35 students who are believed to have faked their identity to appear for the competitive exam ComedK. A commission has been formed by the Karnataka government to monitor the investigations."
"Over 300 Comedk medical seats surrendered last year are under the scanner," said sources privy to investigations into the impersonation scam in private institutions. Sleuths of the central crime branch investigating the scam had on Saturday May 24 raided the office of ComedK and seized several documents," said the Vedike.
The Videke stated, "They are now collating information on those who surrendered their merit seats and are investigating whether there exists a link between the seats and the scam. It is alleged that impersonators used to write the exam, block seats and later surrender them. The surrendered seats would then be transferred to the management quota, each fetching up to Rs 50 lac."
"Five more agents allegedly involved in the scam are in police custody. Police sources said that all the five arrested agents are from Bangalore. 35 impersonators and nine agents have been arrested since May 11, the day they were leaving the city by flight and train," Videke stated.
The members said, "The ComedK for the under-graduate entrance test for admission to private professional colleges was held on May 11. The scam has been going on for three years now. More than 200 students could be involved in the scam and search is on for 75 students who made bookings in bulk to take the exam through a courier company in Rajasthan. The person behind the scandal is yet to be caught."
"The scam was unearthed after the CISF arrested a few people at the Bangalore airport. The agents first identify potential targets. Most of these students manage to crack the exam by repeatedly faking documents. They often cannot afford to pay fees in a private college and earn around Rs 1-5 lac. Just before the admissions close, they surrender the seats. The college then converts them into management quota and demands a huge sum ranging from Rs 5 lac to one crore for a seat," the Vedike added.
"More than 1,20,000 students appeared for the exam in May this year. Hence a detailed investigation with this regard has to be carried out and the case has to be handed over to the CBI," Shetty concluded.
Pramod Ballalbagh, Jyothika Jain, K Ibrahim, Siraj Adkare and others were present.