Maharashtra: Doctor Couple cheated of Rs 40.9 lakh on promise of ward's admission

Pune: A doctor couple has been duped of an alleged sum of Rs. 40.9 lakh by the Chairman of a Private Coaching Academy. The accused had promised medical college admission for the complainant's ward, claimed the Chatushrungi police .

The police was approached by the victimized couple when their son did not figure in the medical college’s admission list and despite five months having elapsed,the sum was not returned, even on repeated asking.

The police have booked the suspect, a resident of Aundh, under sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of IPC.

Chatushrungi police revealed that the complainant had first approached the alleged cheat for admission of their son in the pre medical test coaching class run by him at Aundh.

"The suspect had suggested to the doctor then that instead of spending time and money for preparing for the premedical examination, he would help his son secure admission in a medical college," the officer said.

According to police information, the accused asked for Rs. 40 lakh for ensuring his ward’s admission in one of the best colleges of the city. "Besides exhausting their savings, the doctor borrowed money from his friends and his wife took money from her father to give the accused Rs 40.9 lakh," the officer said.

Realization that they had been duped dawned on the couple for the first time when their son’s name did not figure in the list of selected students on the college's admission list board.

"Subsequently, the doctor contacted the suspect and told him to return the money," the officer said. However, the duped doctor did not complain to the police immediately, instead waited for the suspect to return the promised sum.

"Whenever the doctor contacted the accused, the latter used to say he had given the money to some officials of the college and he would return the money once they returned it to him. The suspect had even told the doctor that he had given the money to a political leader, who was not returning it," the officer added.

Having waited for five months with no results, the doctor finally lodged a complaint against the accused on Wednesday. "We are yet to arrest the accused," admitted the officer to the TOI .