Noida police file FIR against FIITJEE director DK Goel, 8 others for alleged cheating as centres shut down across Delhi-NCR, UP

Noida Police have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against nine people, including FIITJEE director DK Goel, after the abrupt shutdown of FIITJEE centers in various parts of Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh over the past few weeks. The accused have been charged under Section 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (criminal breach of trust) and other sections of the Information Technology Act.

Noida police file FIR against FIITJEE director DK Goel

Formal complaints by the parents association, Satsang Kumar are registered. Of those accused in this FIR are Monila Goel, Partha Halder, Sadhu Ram Bansal, Rustam Dinshaw Batliwala, Shahsikan T Dubey, Mohit Sardana, Aanad Raman P and Ramesh Baltish, amongst others. Further, the FIR names the In charge of the Noida Sector-62 center of FIITJEE too.

FIITJEE, a prominent coaching institute known for preparing students for competitive exams like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), recently faced widespread backlash from parents. Many centres shut down abruptly without any prior notice, leaving students and their families in distress.

“After taking money from parents and promising a bright future for their children, the accused have shut the centre without informing anyone,” reads the FIR. Parents were reportedly shocked by the institute’s sudden closure, with no official communication or explanation provided.

The accused, it further alleges, hatched a conspiracy to siphon off fees collected from parents on their children’s names for education. “The accused tampered with fee amounts, withdrew the money in their personal benefits, and have caused financial as well as psychological harassment to the parents. It has jeopardised the academic future of hundreds of students,” FIR had said.

The parents’ association has called for refunds for the fees paid and accused the institute of gross negligence. Amidst reports of mass resignation by FIITJEE staff over unpaid salaries, the shutdowns have become a cause of further aggravation in the situation.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ram Badan Singh, informed The Indian Express that an investigation was underway. “The case is being thoroughly investigated, and as of now, no arrests have been made,” the DCP said.

They eagerly want to know when the authorities probe the allegations regarding all this. However, this unfortunate and shocking incident further raises questions that are more connected to the credibility and transparency at private coaching centers in India about dealing with lots of money while handling the dream carriers of students as well.