GANGTOK, 04 June: Sikkim Police has confirmed that officials from the Enforcement Directorate had visited the state in connection with an investigation into EIILM University [with its administrative campus at Jorethang, South Sikkim, and main campus at Malbasey, West Sikkim]. Meanwhile, officials at the Enforcement Directorate’s Kolkata office, while talking to NOW! over the phone today, also confirmed that a case has been registered against the university and its officials and that this was now being enquired into.
Further details regarding the investigation could not be availed due to communication problems.
Officials at the Enforcement Directorate did however confirm that a case had been registered against the university.
It is also learnt that two officials, including the investigating officer, from the Enforcement Directorate had visited Namchi and Jorethang, South Sikkim a few weeks ago in connection with their enquiry. This enquiry, as per reports, is in connection with a suspected “education scam” running into thousands of crores of rupees.
The Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (EIILM) University already has cases registered against it and its faculty by the Sikkim Police dating back about 2 years; a chargesheet had also been filed in the courts and as per information, an additional charge sheet is in the process of being filed. Following the filing of the case the university officials had approached the High Court of Sikkim for quashing of the FIRs registered against them. This matter is pending before the court.
The university officials have been accused of fraud and issuing fake degrees and also opening distance education centres which it is not authorized to do. In fact EIILM has been charged with cheating, forgery and fabrication of documents.
The Enforcement Directorate, as per reports, is investigating into the money trail or the money laundering aspect of the alleged scam. The ED had registered its case in March this year after it had been intimated regarding the case by the Sikkim government, according to reports. Reports suggest that the ED has registered a case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Both the cases are likely to go on simultaneously; however the trial into the chargesheet filed by the Sikkim Police on 06 May 2013 is yet to begin.
The institute started operating in Sikkim in 2006. For 2009-10, the Sikkim government granted it permission to run 46 courses under the private university act. EIILM was allowed to operate only in Sikkim and offer courses approved by the University Grants Commission.
However the university is charged with opening branches all across India in contravention of UGC norms and it had also set up an offshore campus at Mauritius, according to reports. At present, the university is still operating but students have to deal with the shadow of the apprehension that degrees and certificates awarded to them may be fakes.
The Directorate of Enforcement is a multidimensional agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, which enforces the Foreign Exchange Management Act,1999 (FEMA) and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
Further details regarding the investigation could not be availed due to communication problems.
Officials at the Enforcement Directorate did however confirm that a case had been registered against the university.
It is also learnt that two officials, including the investigating officer, from the Enforcement Directorate had visited Namchi and Jorethang, South Sikkim a few weeks ago in connection with their enquiry. This enquiry, as per reports, is in connection with a suspected “education scam” running into thousands of crores of rupees.
The Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (EIILM) University already has cases registered against it and its faculty by the Sikkim Police dating back about 2 years; a chargesheet had also been filed in the courts and as per information, an additional charge sheet is in the process of being filed. Following the filing of the case the university officials had approached the High Court of Sikkim for quashing of the FIRs registered against them. This matter is pending before the court.
The university officials have been accused of fraud and issuing fake degrees and also opening distance education centres which it is not authorized to do. In fact EIILM has been charged with cheating, forgery and fabrication of documents.
The Enforcement Directorate, as per reports, is investigating into the money trail or the money laundering aspect of the alleged scam. The ED had registered its case in March this year after it had been intimated regarding the case by the Sikkim government, according to reports. Reports suggest that the ED has registered a case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Both the cases are likely to go on simultaneously; however the trial into the chargesheet filed by the Sikkim Police on 06 May 2013 is yet to begin.
The institute started operating in Sikkim in 2006. For 2009-10, the Sikkim government granted it permission to run 46 courses under the private university act. EIILM was allowed to operate only in Sikkim and offer courses approved by the University Grants Commission.
However the university is charged with opening branches all across India in contravention of UGC norms and it had also set up an offshore campus at Mauritius, according to reports. At present, the university is still operating but students have to deal with the shadow of the apprehension that degrees and certificates awarded to them may be fakes.
The Directorate of Enforcement is a multidimensional agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, which enforces the Foreign Exchange Management Act,1999 (FEMA) and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
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