The deeper you probe, the murkier ASA appears. Singh, for instance, reportedly has no legal status in the US. He had gone as a student, and then sought asylum; that request is yet to be processed. The ASA's records are in Kozman's name, but spelt differently, and there is no official explanation for the variant that could impact on the couple's plan to sell the business in order to save it from going bankrupt.
The negative publicity has had a knock-on effect that has only exacerbated the situation. Thus, the India-based Kingfisher Airlines cancelled a deal with the school that guaranteed job interviews for some graduates, Kozman said. That in turn has resulted in fewer students applying to the school; this means the school has had to increase its advertising outlay, reportedly spending $72,000 [approx Rs 30,29,000] on marketing in other countries.
In an unrelated development, fuel prices had shot through the roof over the year, and hovered near $6 [approx Rs 252] per gallon. ASA based its tuition on $3.50 [approx Rs 147] a gallon of fuel; the hike affected its bottom line and forced it to charge students an additional fuel surcharge, according to Kozman.
The students, who left for the US with dreams of flying high, and who have been thus brutally grounded in a strange land, are now struggling to cope. Some have moved to other states, others have found shelter with relatives or friends; Hegde and eight other students have taken a home on rent, and are counting the very little money they have left.
His parents are aware, but helpless, Hegde says. "Our families cannot afford any more money. We have to join other schools to complete the training, which need almost the same amount we paid ASA. It is unthinkable."
When Bhavana Naik, 21, and sister Bhakti Naik, 23, approached Kozman to join the school, they were asked to pay $50,000 [approx Rs 21,03,500] each. "Since we cannot afford it, we said we would study for a private license first. She asked for $8,500 [approx Rs 3,57,600] each, and we paid $17,000 [approx Rs 7,15,000] in March," Bhavna said. "In just four days, I asked for a refund because I came to know that the school has only six to eight planes, does not have enough instructors, and the students don't get to fly much."
In an e-mail, Kozman promised to pay, but never did. Frustrated, Naik went to the small claims court, and found there were already several cases against Singh and the ASA. Singh subsequently met all 110 students to say the news of the company's closing was not true, but when pressed, he got combative. [In a very recent development, the ASA web site, which till recently displayed information on courses, online application forms, and a gallery of pictures of the students, faculty and planes, has abruptly shut down.] When Bhavana Naik asked him about the refund, Singh, Kozman and some students pushed her out of the meeting, at which she filed a complaint with the local sheriff.
Also see: Study explodes myth of the 'model minority'
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