The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a sweeping investigation into a massive seat-blocking racket in private engineering colleges in Bengaluru, conducting raids across 18 locations on Wednesday. The probe, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, is being led by the agency’s Bengaluru zonal office.
Prominent institutions like BMS College of Engineering, Akash Institute of Engineering and Technology, and New Horizon College of Engineering have come under the scanner. Raids were conducted at college offices, trustees’ residences, and locations linked to education consultants and agents suspected of orchestrating the scam.
ED officials recovered a range of documents and digital hardware, believed to be crucial evidence. However, the institutions and individuals involved have yet to officially respond.
The probe stems from an earlier cybercrime case filed at Malleswaram Police Station, where investigators uncovered that engineering seats were allegedly sold for up to ₹60 lakh using illicit access to the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) portal. Middlemen exploited candidates’ login details and KEA’s confidential keys to manipulate the system. Some KEA staff are also suspected to be involved.
An FIR has been filed against BMS College Trust, based on a complaint by activist Ramesh Naik, for allegedly violating AICTE and UGC guidelines by blocking and selling quota seats. Several individuals—Harsha, Prakash, Ravishankar, Punit, Shashikumar, Purushottam, and Avinash—have been named. Shocking claims suggest that laptops used in the scam were burned to destroy evidence.
Further investigations are ongoing to trace financial trails and widen the crackdown.