MBBS Seat Scam: Medical College professor duped of Rs 69 lakh; Wanted Fraudster arrested

Bhubaneswar: In a case of MBBS seat fraud, the police have recently nabbed a wanted fraudster, who had siphoned off Rs 69 lakh from a medical college professor under the pretext of providing MBBS admission for his daughter.

According to the police, the arrested man along with 3 of his alliances were operating an interstate medical seat scam from 4 to 5 years and are "wanted" in Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack cities.

The investigation into the case had expedited this year after an associate professor at Silchar Medical College, Assam filed a complaint with the Crime Branch alleging that the accused had duped him of Rs 69 lakh in the year 2015.

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According to the complaint, the doctor was searching for an MBBS seat for his daughter at a renowned medical college in Bhubaneswar. For that purpose, he had visited a private medical college and hospital in Bhubaneswar in July 2015 to inquire about the possibility of MBBS admission. However, no success was found. Later, he approached a doctor serving at another private medical college in Bhubaneswar to help him in the matter; following this, the doctor introduced Mohanty, the prime accused in the case; to the professor.

After hearing the professor, the accused promised MBBS admission for his daughter at Bhubaneswar medical college just as he wanted. Sealing the deal, the accused demanded money for providing admission.

In his complaint with the Crime branch, the professor stated that he first paid Rs 2 lakh cash to Mohanty during his meeting in a hotel in 2015. Later, he transferred Rs 51 lakh to Mohanty’s account in three separate transactions in July 2015 and more money was paid after the gang asked for more. In total, the doctor had paid Rs 69 lakh to the gang.

A few months later that year, the gang expressed difficulty to arrange an MBBS seat in Bhubaneswar as to get an admission there a medical entrance test would be necessary and hereby they insisted to arrange admission in a private medical college in Bangalore. Afterwards, the doctor demanded a refund and subsequently the accused handed over four cheques to him of Rs 10 lakh each. After one of the cheques bounced, the doctor tried to contact them but their phones were switched off.

The professor further registered a complaint and during an investigation, the accused was found to be operating in Bhubaneswar. The Crime Branch arrested him and later seized fixed deposit bonds worth Rs 8 lakh from him. Sale proceeding of a 3BHK flat worth Rs 22 lakh, registered in his wife’s name near Pipili has also been blocked, reports TNIE.

Speaking to TOI on the arrest of other accomplices, Crime Branch officials informed that they had arrested Behera, one of Mohanty’s associates recently. “We are looking for his other gang members. Efforts are on to know whether he cheated others in Odisha. Bangalore police that was hunting for Mohanty will be informed,” he added.

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