Powai Police have arrested 10 alleged accused, reportedly former engineering students, in an investigation into a ₹16.50 lakh IIT admission fraud. Police allege the suspects used Instagram advertisements and two fake call centres in Pune to approach students and parents with promises of admissions to reputed institutions. Raids in Viman Nagar–Lohegaon and Kharadi reportedly resulted in the seizure of 22 mobile phones, 23 SIM cards, laptops, hard disks and other materials. Investigators are examining bank transactions and the wider network allegedly behind the operation.
IIT Admission Fraud: Powai Police Arrest 10 Engineers After Raids on Two Fake Call Centres in Pune
Powai Police have arrested 10 alleged accused after tracing a ₹16.50 lakh admission fraud involving Instagram advertisements, fake call centres, multiple SIM cards and suspected institutional impersonation.
Instagram advertisement allegedly led to ₹16.50 lakh fraud
IIT admission fraud allegations involving Instagram advertisements have led Powai Police to arrest 10 accused, all reportedly former engineering students, after raids on two alleged fake call centres.
The accused allegedly targeted students and parents through Instagram advertisements, promising admissions to reputed institutions before demanding token amounts, advance payments or first-year academic fees from victims.
According to police, the investigation followed a complaint by 49-year-old Grancy Peter Swamy, who allegedly encountered an Instagram advertisement posted through the account techorbit1111.
After contacting the account, Swamy was allegedly told admission could be arranged at reputed institutions, including IIT Hyderabad, by two individuals identified as Gautam and Sumeet.
Police allege approximately ₹16.50 lakh was collected from Swamy on the pretext of arranging admission, prompting Powai Police to register a case and begin an investigation.
Investigators used technical analysis and human intelligence to trace the suspected operation to Pune, subsequently conducting raids in Viman Nagar–Lohegaon and Kharadi, according to police.
Pune fake call centres yielded phones, SIM cards and vehicles
The first alleged call centre operated from rooms 204, 404 and 603 at Neon House Building in Viman Nagar–Lohegaon, Pune, where police recovered communication materials.
Police seized eight mobile phones, 18 SIM cards and documents containing names and mobile numbers of colleges and institutions, besides a BMW car and a Maruti Ciaz.
The second alleged centre operated from Office No. 12, third floor, City Vista Building, Kharadi, where investigators recovered digital devices, cards and other materials during searches.
From the Kharadi premises, police recovered four mobile phones, two hard disks, an HP laptop, a JioBook, seven debit cards and six SIM cards during the operation.
Police also recovered 13 additional mobile phones from bags belonging to the accused, taking the overall seizure to 22 mobile phones and 23 SIM cards in total.
Investigators said approximately ₹24 lakh was traced through bank accounts allegedly used for fraudulent transactions, while seized property and related funds were valued at approximately ₹1.35 crore.
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Admission fraud network allegedly operated since 2019
Police allege that the network had operated since 2019, particularly during engineering admission seasons, when students and parents were actively seeking places at reputed institutions.
According to investigators, social media advertisements were used to contact prospective students and parents, followed by different SIM cards and WhatsApp calls to obtain personal information.
The accused allegedly visited campuses or institutional premises to create an impression of administrative connections, introducing themselves as associates before seeking admission-related payments from parents and students.
According to police, six cases have been registered against the accused across Maharashtra, Mumbai, Nagpur, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat, indicating a potentially wider investigation.
Investigators also recovered details of around 30 mobile numbers, with some reportedly linked to records concerning PICT, NSUT and DTU, though further verification remains underway.
Court remands accused as investigation expands
The arrested accused were produced before the court on August 17, 2026, and were remanded to police custody until August 20, 2026, according to the police account.
The investigation is examining possible links to other admission-related frauds, additional victims, financial transactions, and individuals who may have assisted the alleged operation.
The operation was conducted under Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner Dr. Abhinav Deshmukh, and DCP Datta Nalawade.
Assistant Commissioner Dadasaheb Ghugekar also guided the operation, while Senior Police Inspector Atmaji Sawant led the action with Police Inspectors Sushant Badgar and Jaideep Gosavi.
The police team included Prashant Kendre, Sagar Jadhav, Surnar, Pisal, Ghadge, Rathod and Sirsath, whose roles will form part of the continuing investigation.
Sprouts News understands that the immediate focus remains on identifying other alleged gang members, tracing funds, and determining whether students nationwide were targeted through comparable admission promises.
