Kanpur | A disturbing case of education fraud has come to light in Kanpur, where a woman has alleged that her tenant duped her of ₹2.5 lakh on the pretext of securing admission for her son in a D-Pharma course and later issued a fake certificate. The incident, reported from the Rawatpur police station area, has once again exposed how admission rackets are exploiting the aspirations of students and their families.
According to the complaint, the victim Sarita Mishra, a resident of Shiv Nagar in Maswanpur locality, accused her tenant Sukant Kumar alias Kunna of orchestrating the fraud. Originally from Odisha, the accused had been living in her house as a tenant and gradually gained the family’s trust over time.
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The accused allegedly convinced the victim that he could arrange her son’s admission into a D-Pharma course and also assured a job placement after completion. He claimed to have contacts in reputed institutions and stated that the entire admission process would be conducted online, making the offer appear legitimate and convenient.
Trusting his assurances, the victim agreed to proceed. The accused demanded ₹5 lakh as admission and processing fees. Initially, he collected ₹2.5 lakh in two instalments in cash, assuring that the remaining amount could be paid later after confirmation of admission.
However, months passed, including the disruption during the Covid period, but no official confirmation of admission or enrollment was provided. Whenever the family followed up, the accused kept delaying the process, citing procedural issues and institutional delays.
Eventually, under pressure, the accused handed over a D-Pharma certificate to the victim, claiming that the course had been completed and the document was valid. But suspicion arose when the family noticed inconsistencies in the certificate.
To verify its authenticity, the victim approached a cyber café, where the document was examined and found to be completely fake. The certificate did not match any official records, confirming that no genuine admission or course completion had taken place.
Following this revelation, the victim confronted the accused and demanded a refund. Instead of resolving the matter, the accused directed her to contact another individual, Gajendra Singh, based in the Tikra area on Shivli Road, claiming he was handling the process.
However, even after reaching out, the victim received evasive responses. Gajendra Singh reportedly continued to delay the matter, claiming that the process was still ongoing. This further strengthened suspicion that a larger organised fraud network could be involved.
The situation escalated when the victim insisted on getting her money back and warned of filing a police complaint. At this point, the accused Sukant Kumar, along with Gajendra Singh and Shailendra Kumar, allegedly issued death threats and warned her against pursuing the case. They also threatened to implicate her in false cases.
Disturbed by the intimidation and financial loss, the victim approached the police and lodged a complaint at Rawatpur Police Station. Based on her statement, an FIR has been registered and an investigation has been initiated.
Investigators say the case is being examined from multiple angles, including verification of the accused’s background, financial transactions and possible links to a wider admission racket. Officials suspect that more victims could be involved.
Experts note that such education-related frauds are increasingly common, particularly in professional courses like pharmacy and paramedical streams where demand is high. Fraudsters often use social engineering tactics to build trust and then extract money.
A researcher at Future Crime Research Foundation explained, “In such scams, fraudsters gradually gain the victim’s confidence by posing as insiders. Once money is transferred, they either provide fake documents or keep delaying the process until the victim realises the fraud.”
Authorities have advised the public to remain cautious while dealing with agents or individuals promising guaranteed admissions or job placements. People are urged to verify credentials directly with recognised institutions and avoid cash transactions without proper documentation.
As the investigation progresses, officials are working to trace the financial trail and identify other individuals linked to the case. More arrests are likely if evidence of a broader organised network emerges.
The case highlights the urgent need for stricter monitoring of private admission channels and greater public awareness. It also serves as a reminder that in the digital age, vigilance and verification remain the most effective safeguards against such frauds.
