Tue Jul 15 17:02:12 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Nodal officers and students in Karnataka are under investigation by the Central Division cybercrime police for allegedly defrauding the Minority Welfare Department. They are accused of forging documents and uploading them to a scholarship portal between 2021 and 2023, illegally obtaining ₹1.3 crore in scholarships intended for minority students. The accused are charged under the IT Act and relevant sections of the IPC for cheating, forgery, and using forged documents.

**News Article:**

**Minority Scholarship Scam Uncovered in Karnataka: Cybercrime Police Investigate Forgery of ₹1.3 Crore**

**Bengaluru, July 15, 2025** – The Central Division cybercrime police have launched an investigation into a major fraud involving scholarships meant for minority students in Karnataka. The probe centers around allegations that nodal officers and students colluded to forge documents and illegally claim ₹1.3 crore in scholarships from the Minority Welfare Department.

According to a complaint filed by Pradeep Simha M., District Officer of the Minority Welfare Department, 643 fraudulent documents were uploaded to the scholarship portal between 2021 and 2023. These documents impersonated eligible students and were used to claim pre-matric, post-matric, and merit scholarships offered by the Directorate of Minorities.

The Central CEN police have registered a case against the accused under the IT Act, as well as Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), and 471 (using forged documents as genuine) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Police are seeking further information to identify and apprehend all those involved.

“The department discovered the discrepancies during verification of application details for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 scholarship cycles,” stated an official source. “We are cooperating fully with the police investigation to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.”

The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released as the police gather more evidence. The incident has raised concerns about the security and integrity of the scholarship application process and the need for stricter verification measures.

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