Man claims to be a doctor, dupes medical student of Rs 12.9 lakh on pretext of 6-year course fee to Russian University

Mumbai: In yet another case of medical admission fraud reported in the city, a man was taken into police custody on March 7 for allegedly duping a medical student of Rs 12.9 lakh on the pretext of paying a 6-years admission course fee to a Russian University.

While investigating the case, the police found that the accused was a former director of a private company that assists students in pursuing studies abroad.

Although the accused left his position two years ago, he did not inform the families of the medical student. Therefore, when the student’s family members asked him to send the money for admission to the university, the accused accepted it. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he kept most of the amount and sent only some of the money to the university.

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The accused who proposed to the family saying that paying the entire fee (Rs 17.6 lakh) for the six-year course would be affordable instead of paying separately for each year which would cost them Rs 10 lakh more, only submitted the admission fee of the 1st-year medical course.

The police said that the accused claimed to be a doctor, but it has yet to be confirmed. After the police arrested him from Punjab, he was presented before the court and was granted bail by the judge.

The medical student who resides in Andheri became aware of the scam when she received a call from the university which stated that her re-admission to the second year was pending, reports TOI 

According to a police complaint lodged by the student's brother at MIDC police station, the student was keen on pursuing medicine in Russia and was shocked to discover the scam.

Despite paying the full amount to the accused, the student only got to study for one year. Her parents received a warning from the university on paying the readmission fee for the second year in order to continue her being at the university. Moreover, she would be rusticated if failed to pay the amount.

The student began her medical studies at the university in Russia in December 2021 and things went on smoothly during the first year. However, two months ago, her family received a phone call from the university about fees to be paid for the second year of the course. The family tried to contact the accused but could not.

The student's family members then spoke to the chief executive officer of the private company and they were shocked to learn that the accused had quit the company two years ago. However, the company's website still had his picture as its director.

"He submitted the defrauded amount in court and was granted bail," said probe officer Sunil Gaikwad.

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