MBBS admission fraud: Man wanted in 20 cases across 5 states arrested after 12 years on the run

Mumbai: For MBBS admission fraud, a 51-year-old man accused of cheating parents by promising medical college admissions has been recently arrested by Mumbai Police after allegedly evading law enforcement agencies in five states for the past 12 years.

The accused was wanted by nearly 20 police stations across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He was apprehended after a six-month-long operation that combined technical surveillance and intelligence gathered through informant networks.

PTI reported that the case came to light after a man approached Sir J.J. Marg Police Station and alleged that the accused had cheated him of Rs 42 lakh by falsely promising to secure an MBBS seat for his son at a medical college in Kalwa, Thane.

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Based on the complaint, police registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 420 (cheating), 467 and 468 (forgery), and 120B (criminal conspiracy). Investigators said Ansari frequently changed locations to avoid arrest.

The police tracking team followed leads across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar during the investigation, the official said.

According to officials, he narrowly escaped a raid conducted by Uttarakhand Police in Mahabaleshwar before fleeing to Mumbai, where he hid in a residential building in the Agripada area.

Acting on a specific tip-off, Mumbai Police laid a trap and closely monitored his movements within the building premises. Officers deployed in the area disguised themselves and maintained surveillance for several hours before taking him into custody at an opportune moment.

During interrogation, police found that he is linked to at least 18 to 20 similar cases across various states, including eight in Maharashtra alone.

Officials further said that he had been declared a fugitive by a local court in Jalgaon.

Police suspect the number of victims could be significantly higher, as he allegedly targeted parents desperate to secure medical admissions for their children. Further investigation is underway.

Authorities have informed police departments in neighbouring states where cases against him are pending, officials added.

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