FIR against Rohini school for donation ……….Ambika Pandit
NEW DELHI: The anti-corruption branch (ACB) of Delhi government has unravelled what it alleges to be a donation racket at N K Bagrodia School which has its junior and senior branches at Rohini’s Sector 25 and Sector 9, respectively. The ACB has filed an FIR against the school under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The additional commissioner of police in ACB, ID Shukla, said the Prevention of Corruption Act has been applied to the school as the land from which it is functioning has been allotted by DDA on concessional rates, recommended by the Directorate of Education of Delhi government. Thus the school, he said, fits the definition of a public servant under the Act.
“We have information about other schools too and those complaints are also being examined. This FIR has a broad purview as it’s targeting the menace of donations in school admissions,” Shukla added.
NK Bagrodia came under the scanner when one Praveen Sethi, a parent, approached the management of the school for the admission of his son in nursery. He was told that no seats were available and was allegedly asked to go for a donation. Sethi approached the ACB and an investigation was launched. A sting operation was carried out using the audio-visual mode. Armed with the evidence against the school, the ACB has now registered an FIR.
According to the FIR, one of the members of the school management asked Sethi to get in touch with one Dhaundiyal alias BR Nautiyal, the bus operator for the school. When Sethi got in touch with Nautilyal, he allegedly asked him to get in touch with one Sunil who was the transport in-charge for both the junior and senior branches of the school.
Sethi was allegedly asked to shell out Rs 1 lakh as donation for admission. He claims to have paid Sunil and Dhaundiyal the amount on March 11. The investigations have allegedly revealed that the money was channelised through these touts to the management of the school.
Later, the principal is said to have asked Sethi to submit a demand draft of Rs 17130 to the school which Sethi did on March 17.
After examining the role of DDA and directorate of education in allotment of land to the school, the ACB felt it was a case which fell within the ambit of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR was registered under the Act, invoking sections dealing with bribery, misconduct of a public servant and those related to touts. Even criminal sections of the Indian Penal Code have been evoked. The ACB is yet to make any arrests.
Shukla reiterated that the case has unravelled the menace of donation rackets in schools and underlined the urgent need to deal with the malpractice.