Kanpur Medical Admission Scam Uncovered: Two Arrested in Lakhs-Rupee Fraud
A significant case of fraud related to medical admissions has been exposed in Kanpur, where scammers allegedly extorted lakhs of rupees by falsely promising an MBBS seat. The victim, who was seeking admission for his daughter, neither secured the seat nor recovered the money.
Details of the Deceptive Scheme
According to Kalyanpur police, the incident came to light when a resident of Kalyanpur, Dr. Pankaj Pranjal, received a call on February 16. The caller identified himself as Dr. R B Gupta, claiming to be the principal of Katihar Medical College in Bihar, and informed him about a vacant MBBS seat. Trusting this information, Dr. Pranjal shared it with his friend Sunil Kumar, also a Kalyanpur resident, whose daughter aspired to pursue medical education.
When Kumar contacted the accused to secure admission for his daughter, they demanded Rs 4 lakh. Kumar transferred Rs 25,000 to the medical college's account and an additional Rs 3.75 lakh to the account of 'Alkarim Trust'. The fraudsters then called him to Patna on February 22, but instead of meeting, they sent a mobile message demanding an extra Rs 3.5 lakh. Kumar sent Rs 1.75 lakh in response before realizing he had been cheated and filing a police complaint.
Police Action and Arrests
Kalyanpur police took swift action, arresting two accused individuals on Tuesday. The arrested are Jayant Sarkar, a resident of Shantipara in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, and Saurav Ainch, from Babupara in Siliguri, Darjeeling. They were sent to jail on Monday following the investigation, which revealed that the fraudulently obtained money was routed into their accounts.
Kalyanpur Inspector Santosh Singh confirmed that the two accused have been incarcerated. "The search for the main accused is underway," he added, emphasizing that the primary suspect remains absconding.
Broader Implications and Warnings
This case highlights the growing issue of fraud in medical admissions, where vulnerable families are targeted with false promises. Authorities urge the public to exercise caution and verify all admission-related information through official channels to avoid such scams.
The total amount duped in this instance was Rs 5.75 lakh, underscoring the financial and emotional toll on victims. Police are continuing their investigation to apprehend the main accused and prevent similar frauds in the future.
