SOURCE ; NEW18
Last Updated:April 30, 2025, 10:50 IST
Distressed families gathered at the shuttered FIITJEE Noida centre for answers, but found no help. Helplines went unanswered and the offices were completely deserted
The ED stated that student fees, estimated between Rs 206-250 crore, had been allegedly misappropriated and used for personal investments. (Representative/PTI)
In a startling development, students of FIITJEE‘s Noida centre were left in the lurch when they arrived to find the institute’s gates locked and the premises completely abandoned. The incident came to light in January, with News18 Hindi reporting on the plight of affected students like Priya, a Class 11 student and IIT aspirant, who was left without guidance or clarity about her academic future.
Priya had been diligently preparing for the entrance exams, and her parents, Ramesh and Sunita, had made substantial sacrifices to secure her place at the renowned coaching centre. Ramesh, a government school teacher, and Sunita, a homemaker, had poured their savings, sold an old bike, and taken loans to afford the hefty Rs 4 lakh fee.
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When Priya reached the centre in January, the watchman told her, “The centre is shut,” without offering any explanation. She immediately called her father. Ramesh and Sunita rushed to the spot, but there was no one around to answer their questions.
The abrupt closure, executed without any prior notification, left an estimated 12,000-15,000 students in a state of uncertainty and distress. News of the shutdown soon revealed that FIITJEE had closed centres across numerous cities, including Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Varanasi, Bhopal, and Patna.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) conducted raids on the properties of FIITJEE director DK Goyal and his wife. The investigation uncovered that student fees, estimated between Rs 206-250 crore, had been allegedly misappropriated and used for personal properties, jewellery and illegal investments.
On hearing this, Sunita broke down in tears. “We trusted them to shape Priya’s future,” she said, adding, “Instead, they used our money for their own luxury.”
Distressed families, including Priya’s parents, gathered at the closed Noida centre seeking answers, but their efforts proved futile. The helpline remained unresponsive, and the offices were vacant.
Despite the setback, Priya has continued her studies at a smaller coaching centre, though the experience has undoubtedly impacted her outlook.
Underscoring the scale of the alleged fraud, the ED’s raids on Goyal’s properties yielded substantial cash and jewellery amounting to Rs 4.89 crore.
The ED on Thursday raided eight locations in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram linked to FIITJEE, its founder D K Goel, and others, as part of a money laundering probe, PTI reported.
The action, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), follows FIRs filed by Delhi and Noida police after several FIITJEE centres abruptly shut down in January without notice. Parents alleged they had paid full-year fees, leaving nearly 12,000 students in limbo.
