ED raids FIITJEE offices in Delhi-NCR over money laundering allegations

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a series of raids across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on April 24, targeting multiple locations linked to FIITJEE, a once-prominent coaching institute that abruptly shut down several of its centres earlier this year.

The searches are part of a larger money laundering investigation, triggered by complaints from parents who claim they paid hefty fees for their children's coaching but were left without services or refunds when the centres suddenly closed.

"The action is being undertaken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Locations in Delhi and neighbouring Noida and Gurugram, including those of the promoters of the coaching institute, are being searched," an ED official said.

The case traces back to FIRs filed by police in Noida and Delhi following a surge in complaints earlier this year.

In January, many parents reported that FIITJEE centres had shut without notice, leaving students midway through their courses.

The situation worsened when efforts to claim refunds were met with silence.

In March, the Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) took over the investigation into the institute’s Preet Vihar centre in East Delhi.

"The EOW had started a probe after it received around 35 complaints in February, which has now gone up to 190. These complaints were initially filed with the local police in East Delhi and later forwarded to the EOW, as the amount was suspected to be big and needed a thorough investigation," said an officer involved in the case.

Though the FIRs were originally registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the legal framework has since shifted with the introduction of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on July 1, 2024.

FIITJEE, known for preparing students for competitive engineering exams, has long been a fixture in the coaching industry, operating 73 centres across India.

However, since January, centres across Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have shuttered one after another.

The closures have been linked to a severe financial crunch, with large numbers of staff resigning in protest.

The fallout has been national. Police in Ghaziabad, Noida, and Bhopal have all filed FIRs against FIITJEE, while in February, authorities in Greater Noida seized over ₹11.11 crore from 12 bank accounts connected to FIITJEE’s founder, Dinesh Goyal.

As investigations deepen, questions continue to swirl around the institute’s financial management and the fate of students left in academic limbo.