Lucknow|November 27, 2025: Uttar Pradesh Police have exposed what investigators describe as one of the largest medical-admission fraud networks in recent years. Two men accused of orchestrating a nationwide scam—promising MBBS seats in private medical colleges have been arrested. According to police, the consultancy at the centre of the racket, operating under the name “Study Pathway”, allegedly defrauded students and their families of over ₹100 crore.
The arrested suspects, Prem Prakash Vidyarthi alias Abhinav Sharma, and his associate Santosh Kumar, are originally from Bihar and have reportedly been running similar schemes across several states for years.
A trail of complaints, and an office found locked
Police officials said complaints began pouring in at the Vibhutikhand police station and the Cyber Crime unit. Parents alleged that the consultancy collected hefty advance payments for “confirmed MBBS seats,” after which the office abruptly shut down and all staff disappeared.
When a police team reached the Vibhutikhand office, it was found locked. Initial inquiries were followed by an extensive technical investigation—scrutinising call detail records, digital trails and financial transactions. The trail led investigators to a penthouse apartment in the Chinhat area, from where Prem Prakash was allegedly operating the network.
According to Inspector, the accused purchased large datasets from marketing firms containing contact details of NEET aspirants who did not secure high ranks. These students were then targeted with “guaranteed admission” proposals, often accompanied by fabricated documents.
Fake bank accounts in the name of a medical college
The investigation revealed that the suspects used the name and logo of Hind Medical College, Barabanki, to operate multiple fake bank accounts. Funds deposited by victims from across the country were routed through these accounts. The gang collected money through three channels:
- Demand drafts,
- Online transfers,
- And cash payments.
Several victims informed the police that the consultancy provided them with forged admission approval letters, seat confirmation documents and call letters. Many families reportedly handed over life savings—some even sold assets—to pay the requested amount, only to find that neither the admission nor the refund materialised.
Late-night raid leads to arrests; electronic evidence expected to reveal wider links
Late on Tuesday night, acting on electronic surveillance inputs, a police team raided the Chinhat locality and detained the two suspects. During interrogation, Prem Prakash allegedly confirmed that he had been running similar operations in multiple cities and had prior cases registered against him.
From the apartment, police recovered three mobile phones, six computers, forged seals, several cheque books, PAN and Aadhaar cards, and ₹4.98 lakh in cash. Investigators believe that digital material seized from the devices will be crucial in mapping the network’s hierarchy and financial flows.
Exploiting psychological vulnerability: ‘Decide today, seats are limited’
Police officials say the scheme relied heavily on psychological manipulation. Families distressed by low NEET ranks became easy targets. The modus operandi included:
- Generating urgency by insisting seats were limited,
- Pressuring families to make immediate payments,
- Displaying fabricated brochures, college letters and approval documents to build credibility.
The consultancy’s staff reportedly told parents, “If you confirm today, the seat is yours. Delay, and the opportunity will go to someone else.”
This tactic, combined with professional-looking documents, created an illusion of legitimacy.
Police: “A national-level network; more arrests inevitable”
DCP Crime said the investigation points to a larger organised operation spanning multiple states.
“This is not an isolated case,” he said. “We are analysing bank statements, digital payments, call records and travel data. More names are expected to surface in the days ahead.”
Officials have urged all victims of the consultancy to come forward so that the full scale of financial loss can be assessed and strong prosecution can be ensured.
