Former Thane Institute Counsellor Accused of Fraud and Data Misuse
Police in Thane have registered a case against a former academic counsellor associated with an educational institute for allegedly cheating students and illegally using their personal information to collect money. The case was officially registered on Saturday based on a complaint filed by the institute.
Modus Operandi: Continued Deception After Leaving Job
According to officials from the Naupada police station, the accused counsellor stopped attending work at the analytics and technology training institute in July this year. However, investigators claim he did not inform the students of his departure.
He continued to approach students, falsely presenting himself as still being employed by the institute. Under this pretence, he allegedly contacted students directly and collected money from them for various reasons, which he then funneled into his personal mobile-linked account.
Financial Fraud and Legal Action
The police investigation has revealed that the total amount illegally collected from students stands at Rs 48,866. This money was taken without the knowledge or authorization of the educational institute where he was formerly employed.
"The accused misused student data and collected money directly from them into his personal account," stated a police official. "He did not inform the students that he was no longer associated with the institute and misled them under various pretexts."
Following the institute's formal complaint, law enforcement took action. A case was registered under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections. The charges include:
- BNS Section 316(4) pertaining to criminal breach of trust.
- BNS Section 318(4) related to cheating.
The police are currently pursuing further investigation into the matter to ascertain the full extent of the fraud and identify all affected students. This incident highlights the risks associated with the misuse of personal data and serves as a cautionary tale for educational institutions to secure their student information and for students to verify official channels for any payments.
