A dream of securing admission to an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) allegedly became the foundation of an admission fraud operation involving Pune-based civil engineer Yuvraj Kumar Sharma, alias Sonu Kumar. According to police, the 35-year-old allegedly built a network that targeted students and parents during the engineering admission season, promising seats in reputed colleges in return for large sums of money.
The alleged racket reportedly began with a coaching centre and an admission consultancy before expanding into two bogus call centres in Pune. Investigators suspect the operation was designed to exploit the anxiety of students and parents who were looking for engineering seats, particularly during the crucial admission period.
Sharma himself had once travelled to Kota with the ambition of clearing the IIT entrance examination. He did not secure admission to an IIT and later studied civil engineering at MIT Academy in Pune, completing his degree in 2016.
From Coaching Centre to Alleged Admission Racket
According to the police investigation, Sharma entered the education sector after completing his engineering studies. His initial activities reportedly involved a coaching centre and an admission consultancy through which he came into contact with students seeking higher education opportunities.
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The operation allegedly evolved over time. During the engineering admission season, two call centres in Pune were reportedly activated to contact potential victims. The alleged network focused on families looking for admission to reputed engineering institutions and used the pressure surrounding limited seats and admission deadlines to gain their confidence.
Investigators suspect that social media platforms were used to identify students and parents who were actively searching for colleges or admission assistance. Once potential targets were identified, callers allegedly approached them with claims that they could arrange admission to reputed institutions.
Parents Allegedly Promised College Seats
According to the allegations, people working through the call centres presented themselves as admission representatives or individuals with access to the college admission process. During conversations, they allegedly collected information about students, including their examination results, ranks and preferred colleges.
The callers then allegedly offered to secure seats at reputed institutions. Parents were reportedly asked to pay money for the promised admission assistance. Police suspect that the alleged operators used the urgency surrounding engineering admissions to persuade families to transfer the money quickly.
The investigation is examining how the callers obtained information about prospective students and whether the same method was repeatedly used to approach different families.
₹16.5 Lakh Complaint Brings Racket Under Scanner
The alleged operation came under scrutiny after a woman from Powai approached the police and claimed that she had been cheated of ₹16.5 lakh. Her complaint prompted an investigation into the transactions and the people allegedly involved in the admission consultancy and call-centre operations.
Investigators are now examining the financial trail to determine how the money was transferred and where it went after being collected from the alleged victims. Police are also looking into the call records, social media interactions and other digital evidence connected with the operation.
The investigation is expected to establish whether the alleged racket was limited to the complaint involving ₹16.5 lakh or whether other students and parents were also approached and allegedly cheated using a similar method.
Admission Season Was Key to the Alleged Operation
The alleged racket reportedly followed a seasonal pattern rather than operating at the same intensity throughout the year. The call centres were allegedly activated when engineering college admissions were underway, allowing the operators to target families at a time when parents were under considerable pressure to secure seats for their children.
The use of an admission consultancy reportedly helped create an appearance of legitimacy, while the callers allegedly used information about students and their preferred colleges to make the offers appear credible.
Police are now examining the alleged network’s structure, the number of people involved and the financial transactions associated with it. The role of individuals connected with the two alleged bogus call centres is also being investigated.
The case highlights how students’ aspirations for admission to prestigious engineering institutions can become a target for fraudsters. Investigators are continuing to trace the alleged financial and digital links of the operation and identify any additional victims.
The allegations against Sharma and others remain subject to investigation. The full extent of the alleged admission racket will become clear only after police complete their examination of financial records, communications and other evidence.
