Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Mumbai police arrest 10 engineers in fake engineering admission scam
Some grown-ups used the internet to trick other people.
They pretended they could get children into engineering colleges.
They put fake ads on apps like Facebook and Instagram.
Many parents believed them and paid them a lot of money.
But the promises were not real.
The police found out what was happening.
They dressed up as parents to catch the tricksters.
Ten of the tricksters were arrested for the scheme.
Some of the stolen money was given back to one family.
Police are still looking for two more people who helped.
A group of engineers allegedly posted ads on Facebook, Instagram and other social media promising management-quota engineering admissions.
At least 35 families were cheated of nearly Rs 50 lakh for seats at colleges in Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Noida and Pune.
Powai police arrested 10 engineers, with 35-year-old civil engineer Sonu Kumar named the alleged mastermind.
A Powai couple's Rs 16.5 lakh was recovered after a fake admission email supposedly from IIIT-Hyderabad raised their doubts.
Police seized 22 mobile phones, 23 SIM cards, a laptop, seven debit cards, a tablet and three cars, froze about Rs 24 lakh, and are hunting two more suspects.
- Who
- Ten engineers, allegedly led by 35-year-old civil engineer Sonu Kumar, arrested by Powai police.
- What
- A racket that posed as admission agents on social media and cheated at least 35 families of nearly Rs 50 lakh by selling fake engineering seats.
- When
- The racket reportedly operated during admission season, from April for about four months each year since 2024; a fake admission email told one student to join classes from August 1.
- Where
- Operated from Pune, offering admissions to colleges in Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Noida and Pune; arrests were made by Powai police in Mumbai.
- Why
- To extract money from parents desperate to secure management-quota engineering seats for their children.
- Estimated fraud
- Nearly Rs 50 lakh
- Victims
- At least 35 families
- Arrests
- 10 engineers
- Alleged mastermind
- Sonu Kumar, 35-year-old civil engineer
- Operation base
- Pune, running since 2024
- Recovered from Powai couple
- Rs 16.5 lakh
- Funds frozen
- About Rs 24 lakh
- Items seized
- 22 mobile phones, 23 SIM cards, a laptop, 7 debit cards, a tablet and 3 cars