Parents join #SaveDSKSchool movement in Pune; authorities appeal to PM Modi

After the economic offences wing froze a total of 276 bank accounts of DS Kulkarni (DSK) and his wife, Hemanti, the DS Kulkarni Educational Trust's DSK School has also been affected, with parents now worried about the future of their children.

Reaching out to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi via social media, the school staff recently tweeted an appeal to save the school and the future of its 1,480 students.

“Hon PrimeMinister of India @PMOIndia @narendramodi , Sir Save the future of 1480 students ,100 staff. Details mailed to PM and PMO . #SaveDSKSCHOOL,” tweeted the school on Friday.

This was after the school held a meeting with the parents, requesting them to not make fee payments to the school’s previous bank accounts at the Union Bank of India, which now lay frozen. Parents have also joined the #SaveDSKSCHOOL campaign on twitter.

Kulkarni and Hemanti were arrested from a hotel in Delhi during the wee hours of February 17, by a team of Pune police crime branch. They have been booked by the economic offences wing of Pune city police on charges of cheating over 2,500 investors to the tune of ₹230 crore.

Manoj Kulkarni, a parent, said, “The school authorities called a meeting to tell us to not make fee payments in the previous bank accounts. But for those who had already made the payments, they assured no case of repayment will be needed. Initially, we were told that the account of the school is associated with the trust and not the real estate developer DSK, but now that the investigation has found some questionable transactions from the school accounts, they have also been frozen. Although, the school assured us that they have enough funds to run the school for six more months, the situation is very dicey.” 

Hemanti D Kulkarni, now in Yerwada Central Prison, is also the president of the school.

“School officials said that after two months, they will open new bank accounts for the remaining parents to deposit the fees to and those who had already paid will have to show the receipt. Despite their assurances, its hard to understand how the school will managed while the investigation is on. With admissions closed now, we can’t even make a switch, and our children’s futures are left hanging in the court battle. So, we will try and seek legal help and take the matter to the education minister Vinod Tawade, if need be,” said another parent, Sagar Kawale.