Author: Preetu Nair
Publications: The Times of India, Goa
Date: January 5, 2009
Security agencies in the state are alarmed
on discovering that a private teaching institute in Panaji is being funded
by two Yemeni nationals on a student visa in India to study in Hyderabad.
The matter has been reported to the union ministries of Home affairs and External
affairs by the Goa Police and their intervention sought.
Drawing the attention of the ministries to
the functioning of "The Nobel English Centre" located in a residential
building opposite Don Bosco school, Panaji, the Goa police's special branch
in its latest report submitted that the institute's Indian proprietor has
admitted that he has two Yemeni partners and "there appears to be gross
violation of visas by the students and in the documentation of the institute".
However, Sunil Malvankar, owner of The Nobel
English Centre, on December 29 2008, submitted to the police that his two
Yemeni partners now desired to withdraw their partnership.
"A foreigner in India on a student visa
can't do business or be a partner in a business enterprise. Since this is
in violation of visa rules, we have reported the matter to the ministry of
Home Affairs to take appropriate action," said SP (Foreigner's Registration
Office) Tony Fernandes.
"The Yemeni partners resident permits
issued by FRO, Hyderabad, indicate that they have entered India via Hyderabad
on the strength of student visas," states the police report.
During police verification it was also found
that most of the foreign students enrolled at The Nobel English Centre didn't
have student visas to study there.
"There are 16 students in the institute,
of which, 13 are registered with us. Eleven of them have student visas to
study in other English teaching institutes. Besides, one student is on a six
month provisional student visa and no institute or state is mentioned, one
has a student visa to study BCom at Pune University and another to study spoken
English in Pune," said sources.
