SUCC At Calicut University Demands Probe Against Mohanlal-Endorsed IIC Institute ‘Lakshya’ For Misleading Students (Image: Instagram/Lakshya)
Kozhikode: The Save University Campaign Committee at Calicut University has lodged an official complaint with the Chief Minister of Kerala and the Director General of Police, demanding an immediate and comprehensive investigation against Malayalam superstar Mohanlal and the management of the Indian Institute of Commerce (IIC), also known as “IIC Lakshya.”
The complaint alleges that the actor, by featuring prominently in large-scale advertisements, is misleading students and parents into believing that IIC is a government-recognised premier institution, comparable to IITs and IIMs.
Following the announcement of the Plus Two examination results, extensive advertisements featuring Mohanlal have appeared in newspapers and on massive hoardings across national highways in Kerala.
These ads promote IIC Lakshya as an institute offering parallel programs such as B.Com along with professional courses like ACCA, CA, CMA, and CS, promising high-salary placements both in India and abroad.
IIC has also advertised that it is expanding its centers to five more districts in Kerala.
However, the Save University Campaign warns that the name “Indian Institute of Commerce” could easily mislead students and their guardians into thinking the institution is of the same stature as IITs, IIMs, IISc, or IISER.
They argue that the use of “Indian Institute” in the name of a private entity is not only misleading but also potentially illegal, violating Section 3 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.
The term “Lakshya” has been added to the advertisements, seemingly to avoid legal scrutiny while maintaining the deceptive brand image.
The organisation states that although advertisements suggest that students will reach their “lakshya” (goal), in reality, it is the institute’s owners who are benefitting financially.
According to the complaint, students are enrolled in distance B.Com programs from out-of-state universities while simultaneously being coached for highly demanding professional courses such as CA and ACCA , programs known for their low pass rates and high difficulty.
The Committee points out that while the B.Com degrees offered are through open or distance education modes, institutions like IIC are reportedly charging exorbitant fees, extracting lakhs from students under the pretense of dual coaching.
This practice, they claim, leads to many students discontinuing their education midway, unable to pass the tough professional exams and left only with an open B.Com degree something they could have obtained elsewhere at much lower cost within Kerala.
They also highlight a regulatory gap: operating a college under a university typically requires a minimum of five acres of land and fulfillment of certain infrastructure standards.
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Yet, IIC and similar institutions are allegedly functioning without necessary permissions or oversight from the government or universities.
The Save University Campaign insists that only a small percentage of highly capable students succeed in clearing CA and similar professional courses.
Nevertheless, IIC continues to attract a large number of admissions each year through what they call deceptive advertising, especially targeting students fresh out of higher secondary education.
The Committee has requested the government to constitute an expert academic panel to study the operational reality of such institutions.
They stress the urgency of protecting students and parents from falling prey to polished marketing campaigns that exploit academic dreams for financial gain.
The complaint was filed on May 25, immediately after the release of Plus Two examination results. When Timeline contacted Lakshya for a response, IIC Lakshya representatives stated they would get back with an official comment, but no statement had been received at the time of publication.
This story will be updated with the response as and when it happens.
