Pune: Parents and Students Warned Against Fraudulent Admission Agents During Peak Season
As the admission season gains momentum in Maharashtra, cities like Pune and Nashik—home to some of the state’s top educational institutions—are witnessing a sharp rise in demand for management quota seats in prestigious colleges. However, this surge has also led to an increase in fraudulent activities, with unscrupulous agents duping parents by promising guaranteed admissions in exchange for hefty sums.
Rising Fraud Cases in Private & Deemed Universities
Despite recent amendments to the Maharashtra Unaided Private Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admissions and Fees) Act, which mandate transparency in admissions for engineering, pharmacy, MBA, MCA, and architecture courses, many private and deemed universities continue to operate with autonomy, allowing fraudulent agents to exploit desperate parents.
In the past two months alone, three to four major fraud cases have been reported, with parents losing lakhs of rupees. One such victim, on condition of anonymity, shared his ordeal:
“I found an agent through an ad on social media. They asked me to visit their office in Kharadi where three agents demanded ₹13 lakh for an engineering seat under the NRI quota. After negotiation, we settled at ₹12 lakh. I paid the amount, filled out a form, and was told the college would confirm via email. The next day, their phones were off, and the office was locked. My son scored 92%—I just wanted to warn others not to fall for such scams.”
Authorities Urge Vigilance, Support Groups Step In
Kalpesh Yadav, joint secretary of Yuva Sena, emphasized that management quota admissions must be merit-based, reported Hindustan Times.
“Last year, we facilitated 383 admissions purely on merit, without any bribes. We are actively fighting against these fraudulent practices.”
To combat the issue, institutions and government bodies are issuing public advisories, urging parents to avoid dealing with unverified agents. Meanwhile, organizations like the Innovation Foundation and Yuva Sena have launched helplines for affected families.
“Last year, we helped many victims of admission fraud. This year, our helpline (9623337777) remains open for assistance,” Yadav added.
Key Takeaways for Parents & Students
- Verify agents through official college channels.
- Avoid cash transactions—use traceable payment methods.
- Check college admission policies—management quota seats should still follow merit criteria.
- Report fraud immediately to authorities or helplines.
With admission scams on the rise, vigilance is crucial to ensuring a safe and transparent admission process.
