D.Pharma Admission Fraud: Tenant Cheats Woman of Rs 2.5L with Fake Certificate

New Delhi: A shocking case of educational fraud has come to light in Kanpur's Rawatpur police station area, where a woman has accused her tenant of duping her of Rs 2.5 lakh by falsely promising admission for her son into a D.Pharma course and later handing over a fake certificate, highlighting how admission scams continue to exploit the aspirations of students and their families.

As per the recent news report by the420, the complainant, Sarita Mishra, who resides in Shiv Nagar in the Maswanpur area, alleged that her tenant Sukant Kumar, also known as Kunna, masterminded the fraud. The accused, originally from Odisha, had been staying in her house and gradually built a relationship of trust with the family over time.

Taking advantage of this trust, the accused allegedly persuaded the victim that he could secure her son’s admission into a D-Pharma programme and even guaranteed job placement after completion. He claimed to have strong connections with reputed institutions and assured that the entire process would be conducted online, making it appear credible and hassle-free.

Believing his claims, the victim agreed to proceed. The accused reportedly demanded ₹5 lakh for admission and related expenses and initially collected ₹2.5 lakh in two cash instalments, promising that the remaining amount could be paid after confirmation of admission.

However, despite several months passing, including the period affected by the Covid pandemic, no official admission confirmation or enrollment details were provided. Whenever questioned, the accused allegedly kept postponing the process, citing administrative delays and technical issues.

Eventually, when pressured, the accused handed over a D.Pharma certificate to the victim, claiming that the course had been completed and that the document was authentic. Suspicion arose when the family noticed discrepancies in the certificate.

To confirm its legitimacy, the victim visited a cyber café, where the certificate was checked and found to be entirely fake. It did not correspond with any official records, making it clear that no genuine admission or course completion had taken place.

Following this discovery, the victim confronted the accused and demanded her money back. Instead of resolving the issue, he allegedly redirected her to another individual, Gajendra Singh, located in the Tikra area on Shivli Road, claiming he was responsible for the process.

Despite contacting him, the victim reportedly received vague and delaying responses, with claims that the process was still ongoing. This raised further suspicion that the fraud might be part of a larger organised racket.

The matter escalated when the victim insisted on a refund and threatened to approach the police. At this stage, the accused Sukant Kumar, along with Gajendra Singh and Shailendra Kumar, allegedly issued death threats and warned her against taking legal action. They also reportedly threatened to implicate her in false cases.

Distressed by both the financial loss and intimidation, the victim approached the Rawatpur Police Station and filed a complaint. Based on her statement, an FIR has been registered and an investigation is currently underway, the420 reports.

Police officials stated that the case is being probed from multiple perspectives, including examining the accused’s background, tracking financial transactions, and exploring possible links to a broader admission fraud network. Authorities suspect that more victims could be involved.

Experts point out that such frauds in the education sector are becoming increasingly frequent, especially in professional fields like pharmacy and paramedical courses where demand is high. Fraudsters often rely on manipulation and trust-building tactics to deceive victims.

A researcher from the Future Crime Research Foundation explained that in such cases, fraudsters typically present themselves as well-connected insiders, gradually win the victim’s confidence, and then either provide forged documents or continue delaying until the fraud is exposed, reports the420.

Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with agents or individuals offering guaranteed admissions or job placements. They recommend verifying all claims directly with authorised institutions and avoiding cash payments without proper documentation.

As the investigation continues, officials are working to trace the money trail and identify other individuals possibly linked to the case. Further arrests are expected if evidence of an organized network is uncovered.