BEd hopefuls duped by middleman in admission scam

Bengaluru: Hundreds of students were duped by a middleman in Bengaluru, who promised them admission to a BEd course.

The victims, most of whom are working as teachers in private schools across the state, staged a protest in front of Vishnu Vocational Studies in Chamarajpet, Bengaluru, on Wednesday. They demanded that the institute’s owner, Ravi Batlahalli, return the fees they had paid.

The candidates stated that Batlahalli, Chairman of Vishnu Vocational Studies, had promised them BEd seats at a college named GKM. Recently, they realised that Bangalore University (BU) was conducting exams for the course, and there was no intimation for them.

“Each of us has paid Rs 35,000 for the course. First, he said we would be allotted management quota seats. But now we have found out that we have been cheated, as the exams were going on,” said one of the candidates.

The students have registered an FIR at the Chamarajpet police station against Batlahalli and another person named Kamal Nadig.

It may be recalled that BU recently decided to mandate biometric attendance for students and staff to curb such fake admissions.

“Despite repeated warnings, students continue to fall into the traps of agents. They must realise that no college affiliated to the university will offer admission without regular attendance. We will verify the matter if we receive an official complaint from students,” a senior varsity official said.