The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Taken for a ride by B-School?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 03, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Taken for a ride by B-School?

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, NOV. 2. Several students who had paid hefty amounts for admission into different courses offered by the Dundalk Business School, Ireland, were left in confusion on Tuesday amidst reports that the school had run into problems.

Not only the students, but also some educational consultants, also found themselves in a spot.

The consultants and students rushed to the Gopalpuram police and a case was filed against the Passport Overseas Education Consultants, which acted as a local representative of the school.

As the aggrieved consultants claimed that more than 270 students had paid an amount to the tune of Rs. 3 crores, the police planned to transfer the case to the Central Crime Station for further investigation.

Cheques bounce

The students had sought admissions into the MBA, M.Sc (Computer) and diploma course and had paid fees ranging between 1,000 Euros and 7,500 Euros.

Some students who received refund cheque from the school, to their horror realised that the same bounced on being deposited in bank. This apart, unconfirmed news suggesting that the business school was being investigated by local authorities in Ireland, added to the worries of students.

"I paid 1,000 Euros after receiving an offer letter for the Advance Diploma in Business Information System. I was hoping to fly to Ireland in a month's time but my dreams are coming apart now," lamented a student, Mohd.Bilal.

Rs. 3-cr scandal

"This is turning out to be a Rs. 3 crore scandal," alleged Venkat Reddy of S.V. Consultants who represented 20 students in applying at the Dundalk Business School and forwarded drafts worth close to 35,345 Euros from them. The students and consultants on their behalf had sent the fee amount to the school through Passport Overseas Education Consultants.

Its promoter, S. Samar, was almost manhandled by some of the angry students before all ended up with the police. "I am also a victim of this sordid episode. I am seeking the cooperation of students and consultants in ensuring that the amount paid to the school is recovered," he said.

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