ED has taken major action in the seat blocking scam case related to admission in engineering colleges. ED’s Bengaluru zonal office has temporarily attached 3 immovable properties belonging to BMS Educational Trust. These include one plot and two flats, the total market price of which is said to be around Rs 19.46 crore. This action was taken on 21 January 2026.
Action taken on complaint lodged in Bengaluru police stations
ED had started investigating this case on the basis of FIR registered in Malleshwaram and Hanumanthnagar police stations of Bengaluru. It is alleged that during admission to engineering seats through Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), more cash amount was being collected than the fixed fees. This is being called seat blocking scam.
Investigation has revealed that seats in engineering colleges controlled by BMS Educational Trust were being sold by the college management through brokers and agents.
ED had raided many places in May-June 2025
According to ED, money was taken in cash from students directly and through agents but this amount was not recorded in the trust accounts. ED had raided several places in this case on 25 June 2025 and 26 May 2025. During the raids, Rs 1.86 crore cash was seized. Evidence related to recovery of unaccounted cash worth Rs 20.20 crore was found. Diary notings, WhatsApp chats and documents were recovered.
These people including college staff confirmed the evidence
The agency says that this evidence has also been confirmed by the college staff, management and agents. The investigation has also revealed that the black money collected from the sale of engineering seats was used by the trustees of BMS Educational Trust for their personal gains. According to ED, the investigation of the case is still going on.
