FIR against Bengaluru school for collecting admission fees without approvals

When The Indian Express contacted the Euro School management, it did not respond to the calls. In another call to the admissions section, the representative said the principal's contact number was not available. (Source: Euro School Official Website)

The Bengaluru police Tuesday filed an FIR against a school for allegedly collecting admission fees from a parent by falsely claiming to have affiliations and government approvals.

P Indu, 35, a resident of Gunjur, said she approached Euro School on Gunjur Road on November 8 to admit her seven-year-old daughter to Class 2, as per the FIR filed at the Sarjapur police station. She claimed that she paid Rs 1,000 in application fees and submitted the application form.

She said that the counsellor and principal assured her that the institution possessed all the required permissions and licences. However, when she requested to see these documents, the school authorities allegedly told her they would be shown only after payment of the admission fees.

According to the complaint, after the school’s assurance, Indu paid Rs 25,000 online the same day, but the school authorities did not produce any permission or licence documents.

She claimed that she then approached the local block education officer (BEO) and deputy director of public instruction (DDPI), but no action was taken despite complaints being filed.

Vivekananda M, DDPI of Bengaluru South, told The Indian Express that he reviewed the woman’s complaint and directed the police to file an FIR. Euro School have not taken the necessary permission from the education department. I have also asked the Anekal BEO to submit a report in this regard,” he added.

In many of Bengaluru’s private schools, the admission applications were being issued from October last year. A police officer said, “The woman is worried that her daughter’s education is in jeopardy. We have also issued notice to the school authorities to appear before the police with the necessary documents.”

The Sarjapura police registered the case under Section 33 (registration of a recognised educational institution) of the Karnataka Education Act and Section 318 (4) [cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property or valuable security] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).