Multi-crore scamsters claim to represent UNESCO, HRD Ministry

Delhi Police have arrested two persons in Jaipur for duping several companies of crores of rupees which they charged as earnest money for the government contracts of setting up higher education institutions countrywide. They used to trap the companies by claiming to be associated with World Bank, UNESCO and Ministry of Human Resource Development. 

In a case registered on the complaint of HRD Ministry, the duo was accused of taking Rs 80 crore as earnest money for giving a contract amounting to Rs 4,500 crore.

Shubhendu Sorcar and his associate Debashree Chatterjee were held after the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police’s Crime Branch received several complaints against Shubhendu and his organisation ‘National Educational Research and Development’. “Shubhendu used to project that NERDP is supported by UNESCO and recognised by HRD Ministry to carry out higher education related activities,” Praveer Ranjan, Joint Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing) said.

He had also set up an office in Hauz Khas and projected that NERDP handles several assignments countrywide. “The unsuspecting victims were further invited for meetings at five star hotels,” Ranjan added. 

“The victims were also made to believe that the projects being carried out by Shubhendu were worth thousands of crores of rupees. In order to impress his targets, Shubhendu used to communicate with them in a manner which made them believe that they were dealing with a government functionary. He used to show that tenders had been floated by NERDP and invited quotations from his targets” Ranjan said.  In one of the cases, he took Rs 80 crore as earnest money from Ern-Power India for giving a contract worth Rs 4,500 crore for the construction of educational hubs in major metropolitan cities across India. The HRD Ministry approached police on Saturday after confirming that they were not linked. 

“Moreover, the Ministry had not accepted a request made by NERDP in 2008 for UNESCO affiliation for its projects,” a source said. 

In another case, Shubhendu took Rs 24 crore as earnest money from Sunil Dawar of Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon for giving a contract worth Rs 1,200 crore for the construction of a super specialty hospital in Greater Noida. He also took close to Rs 2 crore as earnest money for giving contract of organising an event at Indira Gandhi Arena in Delhi.

“To prove his credentials, Shubhendu used to show forged letters showing sanctions from government authorities including HRD Ministry and DDA,” Ranjan said. 

The cheated money was used to organise cultural events in which politicians and film, TV stars were invited. Shubhendu also organised folk events to show that NERDP was dealing with rural India.