Gautam Buddha University Files FIR Over Massive Student Fee Fraud
In a significant development, Gautam Buddha University (GBU) in Noida has taken legal action by filing a First Information Report (FIR) against its former registrar, Vishwas Tripathi, and eleven other individuals. The university alleges a sophisticated fraud scheme involving more than Rs 5 crore, where student fee payments were systematically siphoned off and concealed through fabricated digital transactions.
Details of the Alleged Fraud Scheme
According to the official complaint lodged at the Ecotech-1 police station, the fraudulent activities came to light during a routine reconciliation of accounts for the 2024-25 academic year, which commenced in April 2025. The investigation revealed that fee payments totaling over Rs 5 crore had been recorded in the university's software system but were conspicuously absent from GBU's official bank accounts.
The university has accused regular accounts section employees of colluding with outsourced data-entry staff to embezzle funds deposited by students. To mask this diversion, the perpetrators allegedly generated fake UPI transaction IDs and receipts, which were then entered into the fee software. This created the illusion that payments had been properly processed and deposited, even though the money never reached the designated university accounts.
Key Individuals Named in the FIR
The FIR names a total of twelve individuals, including:
- Vishwas Tripathi, former registrar and drawing and disbursing officer
- Neeraj Kumar, finance officer
- Shilendra Kumar Sharma, accounts officer
- Vijay Pratap Singh and another Kumar from the accounts section
- Outsourced staff: Mukesh Pandey, Shiv Kumar Khatri, Shivam Chattha, Sandeep, Shyam, Naveen, and Subhash Sharma
Tripathi, who served as the university's chief administrative officer since 2020, held custody of public funds and had direct control over staff in the accounts and finance departments. The complaint alleges that he failed to verify bank reconciliations against software entries, thereby enabling the misappropriation to continue unchecked.
Administrative Failures and Concealment Attempts
The university's complaint highlights several serious administrative lapses. Tripathi allegedly had exclusive control over the CCTV system in and around the accounts office. A fact-finding committee requested relevant footage three times, but he did not provide it, raising further suspicions about attempts to conceal evidence.
The alleged embezzlement distorted GBU's financial statements, with the statutory chartered accountant firm reportedly relying on fabricated and unreconciled bank statements. This caused substantial loss to the university treasury and compromised financial integrity.
Investigation and Wider Implications
In response to the irregularities, a three-member inquiry committee was established, headed by NM Singh, former joint director and inspector-general of police at CBI headquarters in New Delhi. The panel identified serious administrative and financial lapses, poor supervision, and criminal misconduct during Tripathi's tenure.
The Rs 5 crore figure is based solely on the reconciliation for 2024-25, and the actual amount may be higher. The university has now initiated a comprehensive examination of financial records spanning the past four years to determine the full extent of the fraud.
University's Response and Legal Action
GBU issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to addressing the matter with urgency and transparency. "In view of the sensitivity and gravity of the matter, the university administration took prompt action and lodged an FIR against 12 individuals," the statement read. It further noted that strict disciplinary action is being initiated against those found responsible, underscoring a "zero-tolerance policy" towards financial misconduct.
The university is pursuing an impartial investigation and all necessary legal steps to ensure accountability. The case against Tripathi and the others has been registered under sections 316(5) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy, respectively.
This incident raises critical questions about financial oversight in educational institutions and highlights the need for robust internal controls to prevent such frauds in the future.
