‘School collected `2cr illegally’
The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) has submitted a detailed report to the state education department regarding financial irregularities at St. Mary’s School, Mazgaon. The report states that the school is guilty of collecting money from students under various garbs to the tune of `2 crore and not the `1.45 crore calculated by the education department. Officials said they will submit the report to the court after the school filed a petition against the de-recognition process initiated by the department.
According to Balasaheb Mane, education inspector, south zone, the EOW report had proved beyond doubt that the school was collecting funds indiscriminately. “The report proves all the financial irregularities taking place in the school. It also showed that the amount collected illegally has exceeded even the amount we had calculated,” Mr Mane said.
The exhaustive report enumerates that the school had been collecting money from students towards fines and funds like teachers’ benefit fund, primary teachers’ gratuity fund, etc.
The school management had moved court against a February order passed by the director of school education asking that the parents be refunded `1.45 crore collected from parents within a month or face disciplinary action.
“It wouldn’t be appropriate to say anything about the case now,” Father Baptist Pinto, principal, St. Mary’s School, said when contacted.
The EOW, in its report, had also stated during investigations, they did not come across any non-cognisable offence.
“We are awaiting the court’s order but we will not let the matter rest. The school has exploited parents and cannot get away with it,” Mr Mane said.
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