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A major racket promising MBBS admissions in reputed medical colleges and allegedly defrauding aspirants of nearly ₹100 crore has been exposed. Two prime accused — Prem Prakash Vidyarthi (alias Abhinav Sharma) from Aurangabad, Bihar, and Santosh Kumar from Samastipur — have been arrested from the Chinhat area on the outskirts of Lucknow.
Investigators found that the duo operated a consultancy named “Study Pathway”, through which they allegedly lured hundreds of students and parents across the country with assurances of guaranteed seats in medical colleges.
Complaints received from victims stated that the consultancy collected large sums of money on the promise of securing MBBS admissions, but neither the admissions materialised nor were the payments refunded. When teams reached the office of Study Pathway, it was found locked and the staff had disappeared.
How the scam worked
During questioning, it emerged that Prem Prakash was living on rent in a penthouse in Chinhat and routinely claimed he could secure admissions at Hind Medical College, Barabanki. For this purpose, several fake bank accounts were allegedly opened in the name of the college.
The gang primarily targeted students who had scored lower marks in NEET, knowing they were desperate for seats. According to investigators, data of such students was obtained from various online sources. The accused then contacted families via social media and phone calls, invited them to the consultancy office, and gained their confidence through fabricated paperwork.
Payments were reportedly collected through demand drafts, online transfers, and even cash, depending on what the victims could arrange.
Cases across multiple states
Preliminary findings indicate that Prem Prakash is named in over 18 cheating cases registered across Delhi, Bihar, Gujarat, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Noida, Bijnor, Saharanpur and Prayagraj. Authorities are now tracing how the collected money moved across accounts and are examining possible involvement of other associates connected to the network.
During the search, teams recovered three mobile phones, six computers, a router, a dongle, two official-looking seals, cheque books in the name of Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, PAN and Aadhaar cards, along with ₹4.98 lakh in cash.
What experts say
Noted cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said scams around medical admissions are increasing because parents often get swayed by the promise of a “confirmed seat”.
“Fraudsters project themselves as being connected with colleges, use fake letterheads, emails and bank accounts. Any claim of a guaranteed seat should immediately raise suspicion. Verification through official channels before making any payment is absolutely essential,” Prof. Singh said.
He advised students and parents to always cross-check information on official college websites, NMC/UGC portals, government helplines, and to strictly avoid cash payments.
What lies ahead
Authorities are now focusing on the money trail — analysing how funds circulated through fake accounts and identifying others who may have benefited. Banking records and digital devices are being examined with the help of cyber-forensic teams. Custodial interrogation, officials indicated, may be sought if required.
Initial assessment suggests that the number of victims could be significantly higher than currently known. People who have paid money to Study Pathway are being urged to come forward so the complete extent of the fraud can be documented.
The episode once again highlights how well-organised admission rackets exploit parental anxiety around professional education. Experts warn that unless families insist on transparent, official procedures and refuse off-the-record deals, such syndicates will continue to resurface.
