A case of cheating involving a false promise of admission under the “employee quota” at Banaras Hindu University has come to light, with the Chetganj police arresting Devesh Mishra for allegedly defrauding students of ₹1.70 lakh. Devesh is the son of a pharmacist posted at the health centre of Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. Police have also named his father, Devendra Mishra, and another individual as co-accused. Investigators said the accused lived with his family inside a university campus and used that association to win the victims’ trust.
According to the FIR registered on the complaint of Jagatganj resident Amit Kumar Malviya, the fraud dates back to June last year. Malviya told police that his nephew, Kumar Vaibhav, was acquainted with Devesh Mishra. During conversations, Devesh allegedly claimed that his father had strong links within BHU and that admissions could be arranged under the employee quota.
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Trust built by collecting documents
Police said Vaibhav and his two friends—Ashutosh and Saurabh—were persuaded by these claims and handed over their academic documents to Devesh. The accused allegedly took close to ₹2 lakh into his bank account for arranging the admissions. In return, he issued receipts and papers bearing BHU’s name and assured the students that confirmation would follow shortly.
Initially, Devesh continued to reassure the students. However, as weeks passed, he began evading their queries. When the students approached BHU to verify the receipts, they were found to be fake. The victims then demanded a refund.
Partial refund followed by threats
Under pressure, Devesh reportedly returned ₹30,000 on November 22, 2024, and sought more time to repay the remaining amount. When no further payment was made, Vaibhav and Ashutosh went to Devesh’s residence on January 2, 2025. The complaint alleges that Devesh, his father Devendra Mishra, and another person threatened them with dire consequences and drove them away.
Following this, the victims again approached the police. Taking note of the seriousness of the allegations, the Chetganj police intensified the investigation and arrested Devesh Mishra on Thursday.
Police action and ongoing investigation
Confirming the arrest, the station officer said Devesh is being interrogated to ascertain the full extent of the fraud. Police are also probing whether more students were targeted using similar tactics. Investigators are examining how the fake receipts and documents were prepared and whether others were involved in creating or circulating them.
Police sources said the accused exploited the name of a reputed central university and the sensitive issue of an employee quota to mislead aspirants. The investigation will also look into possible misuse of official-looking stationery or seals to make the documents appear authentic.
Advisory for students and parents
The case has once again highlighted how fraudsters misuse the reputation of premier educational institutions to dupe students. Police have urged students and parents not to rely on claims of “direct admission” or employee quotas offered by private individuals. They advised aspirants to verify all admission-related information strictly through official university websites, prospectuses, or authorised offices.
Further arrests possible
Police officials said further arrests cannot be ruled out once the roles of the other named accused are established. The process of sending the arrested accused to judicial custody is underway.
The case underscores the need for vigilance against admission-related scams that prey on students’ aspirations. Authorities reiterated that timely verification and prompt reporting remain the most effective safeguards against such frauds.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
