The MIDC police in Mumbai have initiated a formal investigation into a significant financial fraud case, where a retired individual was allegedly swindled out of a massive sum of money under the false promise of securing an MBBS seat for his daughter.
The Promise of a Medical Seat Turns Into a Nightmare
On Friday, the MIDC police station registered a First Information Report (FIR) against two individuals. The complaint was filed by 56-year-old retired L Pinto, a resident of Andheri East, who was cheated of Rs 33.53 lakh. The accused had guaranteed his 19-year-old daughter admission to a medical college in Chennai in 2023, an offer that proved entirely fraudulent.
The unfortunate sequence of events began in 2022. Pinto's daughter could not secure an MBBS seat in Maharashtra after the NEET exam held in July 2022 due to her marks. Anxious to find a solution, Pinto sought assistance and was introduced to the accused through a relative.
How the Elaborate Scam Was Executed
According to the police complaint, Pinto first spoke to one of the accused over the telephone. This person claimed that his business partner, who was presented as a "Global Career Advisor," had the capability to arrange the admission and had successfully done so for many students in the past.
On September 19, 2022, Pinto formally approached the accused for help. After reviewing his daughter's educational documents, the fraudsters quoted a total cost of Rs 33.53 lakh. This amount included Rs 30 lakh for the admission, along with additional charges for service tax, hostel fees, and processing.
Trusting their claims, Pinto followed their instructions meticulously. He transferred the entire sum of Rs 33.53 lakh via an online RTGS transaction from his Bank of India account to a Standard Chartered Bank account held in another person's name, details of which were provided by the accused.
The Final Sting and Disappearing Act
The plot thickened on December 18, 2022. The accused called Pinto, his wife, and their daughter to Madras Medical College in Chennai. The family waited for several hours before the accused finally appeared. He entered the college building and returned after some time, assuring them that a confirmation email would be sent by January 2023. Based on this assurance, the family returned to Mumbai.
However, the promised email never arrived. Subsequently, the fraudster began citing personal reasons for the delay. Later, he shifted the timeline, claiming the admission would be confirmed by June 2023. When none of these promises materialized, the accused switched off their mobile phones and became completely untraceable.
After numerous futile attempts to get a satisfactory response or a refund, a desperate Pinto and his wife approached the MIDC police to file an official complaint. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing to track down the culprits behind this sophisticated MBBS admission scam.
