IIT Dream Turns Into Alleged Admission Scam as Pune Engineer Runs Fake College Seat Racket

A Pune civil engineer who once aspired to enter an IIT allegedly built an admission scam around the same dreams he had pursued as a student, according to police.

Yuvraj Kumar Sharma, also known as Sonu Kumar, 35, had travelled to Kota as a young student with the ambition of clearing the IIT entrance examination. He did not secure admission to an IIT and later completed a civil engineering degree from MIT Academy in Pune, graduating in 2016.

Years later, investigators allege that Sharma became involved in an operation targeting students and parents during the engineering admission season.

From Coaching Centre to Alleged Admission Racket

According to the police investigation, what initially operated as a coaching centre and admission consultancy eventually developed into a seasonal racket.

The alleged operation was run through two bogus call centres in Pune and became particularly active when engineering college admissions opened.

Investigators say the group targeted students and parents who were anxious about securing seats at reputed institutions.

The alleged fraud relied heavily on promises of college admissions. Prospective students and their families were approached through social media and reportedly offered seats in engineering colleges.

Parents Targeted During Admission Season

The racket reportedly exploited the pressure faced by families during the competitive admission process.

According to police, the accused allegedly contacted potential victims through social media and presented themselves as people capable of arranging admissions to reputed colleges.

Families looking for engineering seats could be persuaded to pay large sums based on these promises.

The alleged operation was then shut down after victims realised that the promised admissions were not genuine.

₹16.5 Lakh Complaint Brings Case to Police

The alleged racket came to light after a mother from Powai approached police, claiming that she had been cheated of ₹16.5 lakh.

The complaint prompted investigators to examine the activities of the alleged admission consultancy and the people operating the call centres.

Police subsequently began investigating the network and the manner in which students and parents were allegedly identified and contacted.

An Unfulfilled IIT Dream

Sharma's background has added another dimension to the investigation.

He had reportedly travelled to Kota with the same ambition shared by thousands of engineering aspirants: gaining admission to an IIT.

Although he did not achieve that goal, he eventually completed civil engineering at MIT Academy in Pune.

Police allege that years later, he used his understanding of the engineering admission ecosystem to operate a business that allegedly exploited families pursuing similar educational ambitions.

The investigation into the alleged admission racket is continuing, with authorities examining the network, its finances and the number of people who may have been affected.

The allegations against the accused remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.