A significant scam involving the misuse of minority scholarship funds has come to light in Indore, where 27 madrasas and private schools are suspected of fraudulently claiming over ₹57 lakh in government aid meant for Muslim students.
The Indore Crime Branch has filed an FIR against five individuals allegedly connected to the scam. Those named include Mohammad Rafiq Khan, Shabnam Shah, Shahnaz Khanam, Aftab Khan, and another individual also identified as Aftab.
How the Scam Worked
According to an investigation conducted by the Crime Branch, the accused are believed to have falsified documents and misrepresented dilapidated or empty plots as functioning educational institutions in order to claim scholarship funds.
DCP (Crime) Rajesh Kumar Tripathi, speaking to the media, revealed that one of the suspects, Aftab Khan, had received over ₹7 lakh in scholarship money under the name of St. Xavier’s Convent, a school reportedly located in Sabzi Mandi, Khajrana. When police reached the site to verify its existence, the location was found to be non-functional, and Aftab had allegedly gone into hiding, switching off his mobile phone to evade arrest.
The scam came to light after a formal complaint was lodged by Anil Kumar Soni, Assistant Director of the Backward Classes and Minority Welfare Department, on June 17. Following this, Inspector Madhav Singh Bhadoria led the inquiry and formally registered the case.
Fake Student Registrations and Bogus Institutions
Inspector Bhadoria explained that the fraud involved the creation of fake student profiles on the scholarship portal, particularly for students in Classes 9 and 10. These false records were then used by the institutions themselves, using their official login credentials, to claim scholarship amounts from the government.
The institutions currently under scrutiny include:
Care Well School (Director: Mohammad Rafiq Khan)
Madrasa Safia (Director: Shabnam Shah)
Madrasa Usmania (Director: Shahnaz Khanam)
St. Xavier’s Convent (Director: Aftab Khan)
JR DRD Memorial School (Director: Aftab)
A total of 27 schools and madrasas have been identified as suspicious in the initial stages of the investigation. Officials are currently verifying records and site inspections are ongoing. Further action, including additional charges and possible closures, will be taken if the allegations are substantiated.
Ongoing Investigation
The Crime Branch has forwarded its findings to higher authorities and is continuing its efforts to locate and apprehend those involved. The case has raised concerns about systemic loopholes in the minority welfare scheme and the need for tighter monitoring mechanisms to prevent such abuse in the future.
