Fake sports tournament: East Marredpally DPS alleges Rs 21.6 lakh fraud

Hyderabad: The principal of Delhi Public School, Mahendra Hills, East Marredpally, filed a complaint against the working president of the Indian Sports Aerobics and Fitness Federation (ISAFF) after the school paid Rs 21.6 lakh for participation in an international sports tournament that never happened.

Case details

The complaint was filed by principal Nandita Sunkara. According to the complaint, under the guidance of the school’s coaching team and management, the students of the aerobics team have performed consistently, progressing from local competitions to national and international levels.

On July 27, 2024, the students secured first place in the ‘Pulse Aerobics Competition, an interschool event hosted by the school. The judge of the event, Santosh Khairnar, who introduced himself as the working president of ISAFF, connected with the school’s coach and encouraged participation in the upcoming CBSE National Competition.

Following this, the school’s aerobics team participated in the CBSE National Aerobics Championship held at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, from October 10 to 12, 2024, during which the school was formally introduced to and began its association with ISAFF.

Subsequently, the school’s teams also took part in:

- The 19th ISAFF National Aerobics Championship in Shirdi (November 29 – December 1, 2024)

- The Aerobics World Championship in Russia,

- The ISAFF Federation Cup Nationals in Goa (April 25 – 27, 2025)

In all these events, the students of DPS Mahendra Hills delivered commendable performances, the principal said in the complaint.

On April 17, a letter was received from Santosh Khairnar stating that 17 students from the school had been selected to participate in the 3rd Asian Aerobics & Hip-Hop Championship 2025, scheduled to be held in Dubai, UAE, from May 29 to June 1, as part of the Indian team representing ISAFF.

The cost per student was communicated as Rs 1.2 lakh, which was collected from the parents and deposited in the school account. The school, in turn, transferred Rs 8,33,000 on May 6 and Rs 12,83,000 on May 13 (after deducting 2% TDS) to the account of Fly Elevation Holidays, as per instructions from Santosh Khairnar.

Stranded at airport for 36 hours due to visa rejections

However, upon arrival at the Mumbai Airport on May 29, it was discovered that visas for several students were not approved.

Despite repeated verbal assurances from Santosh Khairnar that visa processing was underway, the students and staff were left stranded overnight at the airport without food or accommodation. Eventually, they were moved to a hotel at the school’s expense for rest and recovery.

After more than 36 hours of waiting, it was revealed that the visas applied for were family visas, not valid for international sports events.

Given these developments, and prioritising student safety, the school authorities cancelled the trip and brought all students safely back to Hyderabad, where they were reunited with their parents.

Organiser promised a refund

Before the team reached Hyderabad, Santosh issued an official communication stating that the Dubai Championship would be rescheduled, and the new dates would be shared by June 15. He also assured that if the school was not interested in participating, the entire amount would be refunded by June 15.

In light of the trauma and mismanagement experienced, both the school and the parents declined further participation and formally requested a refund. Despite several emails, phone calls, and reminders, the refund was not processed. Santosh later committed in writing to return the amount in two instalments.

However, the first instalment was not paid. Instead, Santosh sought an extension until August 10. This delay triggered frustration among parents, who held a meeting with the principal and demanded immediate reimbursement. Nandita Sunkara appealed for their patience, assuring them that the official assurances were being followed up on.

Eventually, during a phone call on July 10, Santosh openly declared that he would not make any refund under any circumstances and was prepared to face legal proceedings. It has now become clear that Santosh has cheated the school and parents under the guise of organising a sports event, collected a total of Rs 21,60,000, and is now refusing to return the amount.

These funds were collected from parents in good faith for their children’s participation in an international event. This incident has damaged the reputation of the school, shaken the trust of the parents, and caused severe emotional distress to the students, the complaint said.

The school said it is evident that Santosh Khairnar has committed fraud, criminal breach of trust and cheating, and has misappropriated the funds meant for student participation in an international competition.

Therefore, the principal of DPS requested that strict legal action be initiated against Santosh Khairnar, that a case be registered and necessary steps be taken to secure the refund of Rs 21,60,000 along with the return airfare from Mumbai to Hyderabad incurred by the school.