The Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch in Kashmir conducted raids at six locations across the Valley on Saturday, targeting a fraudulent MBBS admission scheme linked to Bangladesh, officials reported. The operation follows a First Information Report (FIR) against four individuals accused of defrauding students and families by promising fake medical college admissions abroad.
The accused, identified as Peerzada Aabid (Bijbehara, now at Azad Basti, Natipora, Srinagar), Syed Wasim (Kareemabad, Pulwama, also at Natipora), Syed Suhail Aijaz (Takia Magam, Kokernag, now at Muslimabad, Bemina), and Zaigam Khan (Bemina), allegedly collected crores of rupees under the guise of securing MBBS seats.
Aabid operates Europe Consultancy Centre, while Wasim, Suhail, and Zaigam are linked to Overseas Consultancy. Investigations revealed no funds were transferred to any medical institutions, confirming allegations of cheating and criminal conspiracy under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
The raids, conducted in Natipora, Bemina, and other areas, targeted residences and offices of the accused, seizing documents, electronic devices, and bank records. A Crime Branch spokesperson stated that preliminary findings show the group lured victims with promises of admissions to reputed Bangladesh colleges, exploiting the high demand for medical education.
The scam, estimated to involve ₹2-3 crore, affected dozens of families, many of whom paid ₹10-20 lakh per student. Some victims reported on social media that they were promised seats in Dhaka-based colleges, only to discover the admissions were fraudulent after months of delays.
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The case surfaced after a complaint from a Srinagar family, prompting a broader probe that uncovered similar grievances across the Valley. The Crime Branch is examining additional suspects and potential links to other states, as the consultancies advertised heavily online, targeting aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir.
The accused are currently under interrogation, with police seeking custody to recover misappropriated funds and identify additional victims. The investigation is ongoing, with calls for stricter regulation of private educational consultancies to prevent such frauds.
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