Scholarship Scam: 18 accused get RI

Hyderabad, June 11 (UNI) A Special Court today sentenced four main accused in the Rs 50 crore Scholarship Scam to ten-year rigorous imprisonment while convicting 14 others.

Special Court Judge T Bhaktavatsalam ordered ten-year rigorous imprisonment to four accused including Social Welfare Department Warden Mothy Naik, Hyderabad District Social Welfare Department Accountant D Shankar Rao and Advocate Jasimha.

Convicting 18 of the 44 persons, whose names figured in the scam, he sentenced the others to two to three year rigorous imprisonment besides imposing a fine of Rs 5,000 each.

The scam came to light in 2002 when Social Welfare Department Deputy Director Shambhavi lodged a complaint with a city police station that two cheques were issued for scholarships in the name of DVR College which did not exist.

The investigators seized five houses, 18 flats, 12 commercial buildings, six cars and 287 acre of agricultural land in Medak District belonging to the accused.

Nearly two lakh documents like cheques and bills were collected and over 300 witnesses cited during the investigation.

UNI