Bengaluru: ABVP stages protest at KEA office over KCET seat blocking allegations

Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest in front of the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) office, demanding a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities in the KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test) counselling process.

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The student group raised concerns over a ₹750 entry fee imposed for participating in the counselling, calling it unjust, especially for students who had already paid the KCET application fee. Protesters claimed the additional fee created unnecessary financial burden on aspirants and their families.

More alarmingly, the ABVP alleged the involvement of certain officials in a "seat blocking" scam. According to the protesters, some individuals may have deliberately blocked seats in premier colleges to manipulate counselling outcomes or benefit private institutions. The organisation demanded an immediate inquiry into the suspected malpractice.

Tensions escalated at the protest site as police arrived to manage the crowd. Several ABVP workers were detained after they attempted to block the entrance to the KEA office and refused to disperse. The situation remained under control, though traffic movement in the area was temporarily affected.

Speaking to the media, ABVP leaders insisted on accountability and transparency in the counselling process and warned of intensified protests if their demands were not met. Meanwhile, KEA officials have yet to release an official statement addressing the allegations.