Mumbai |Reported by: Rupesh Kumar Singh: Powai Police have busted an alleged admission fraud racket targeting students and parents with promises of securing seats in prestigious educational institutions, including IIT Hyderabad. Ten people have been arrested in connection with the case.
The investigation began after a Powai resident alleged that her son was promised admission to IIT Hyderabad through an Instagram account named techorbit1111. Two accused, identified as Gautam and Sumeet, allegedly collected Rs 16.50 lakh from her. Police registered a case under CR No. 767/2026 and contacted the bank to freeze the allegedly defrauded amount.
Based on technical investigation, police raided a premises at Neon Homes in Viman Nagar, Lohegaon, Pune, on August 14, 2026, and arrested 10 accused. Police subsequently uncovered two alleged fake call centres operating from Neon Homes and City Vista building in Kharadi.
According to police, the accused allegedly used fake Instagram and Facebook accounts to advertise admission opportunities. After obtaining contact details from students and parents, they reportedly shifted communication to WhatsApp Business and promised admissions through NRI and management quotas at institutions including PICT, NSUT and DTU.
The accused allegedly posed as people with connections inside colleges and demanded money in the name of token payments, advance fees and first year tuition fees.
Police reportedly seized 22 mobile phones, 23 SIM cards, an HP laptop, a JioBook, seven debit cards, two cars and funds of around Rs 24 lakh in bank accounts. The total value of the seized property has been estimated at approximately Rs 1.35 crore.
Investigators have reportedly found that the alleged operation had been running since 2019. At least six related cases have surfaced across Mumbai, Nagpur, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat, with police suspecting that more victims could emerge.
The arrested accused include four persons from Bihar, four from Uttar Pradesh, one from Haryana and one from Jharkhand. They were produced before a court on August 15, which reportedly remanded them to police custody until August 20, 2026.
The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of senior Mumbai Police officials and the Powai Police team. Police are examining the seized electronic devices, financial transactions and communication records to identify additional victims and possible links to a wider admission fraud network.
The case highlights the growing risk of admission scams operating through social media, particularly where intermediaries promise guaranteed seats through NRI or management quotas. Students and parents are advised to verify admission offers directly with the concerned institution before making any payment.
