ED raids FIITJEE centres over fraud claims

New Delhi

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided several FIITJEE coaching centres and related properties in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram on Thursday. The action is part of a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The raids followed many complaints from parents about the sudden shutdown of coaching centres.

Parents said FIITJEE closed multiple centres in January without notice or refunds. Students who had paid high fees for JEE exam coaching were left without classes, just before crucial tests. The closures affected students in Ghaziabad, Noida Sector 62, and Greater Noida the most.

FIITJEE runs 73 centres across India. The issue caused anger among parents and led to many police complaints. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police began its probe in February. They found over 300 suspicious bank accounts and froze them, seizing Rs 60 lakh. A formal case was filed in March for cheating, conspiracy, breach of trust, and other crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

One centre in Laxmi Nagar, east Delhi, received 192 complaints alone. Many parents were shocked by the closure, saying their children's future was at risk. The coaching company, in its defense, said it was not directly responsible for the closures. FIITJEE claimed the centre managers left their posts without informing the main office.

The investigation is ongoing, and the ED continues to look into financial records. The case has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in India’s booming private coaching industry. Authorities have promised strict action to protect students and their families from such fraudulent acts in the future.