Archive · 19 Aug 2026
BTech Graduate Allegedly Ran ₹50 Lakh Engineering Admission Racket
Police in Mumbai say a man named Sonu Kumar allegedly organized a scheme involving engineering college admissions.
They say he recruited nine engineers who were unemployed or had only small jobs.
The engineers reportedly came from four states.
Their families were allegedly told they were working on a four-month project in Pune.
Instead, police say they stayed in rented flats and pretended to be tourists.
The group allegedly promised students engineering seats through management and NRI quotas.
Police say they contacted families online using fake social-media accounts and burner phones.
At least 35 people allegedly lost about ₹50 lakh.
Police raided three flats on August 15 and arrested or detained the accused, according to the report.
Powai police identified 32-year-old BTech graduate Sonu Kumar as the alleged mastermind.
Kumar allegedly recruited nine unemployed engineers from Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Police said the group operated from three rented flats in Viman Nagar, Pune, posing as tourists.
The accused allegedly promised management- and NRI-quota engineering seats to students and families.
Police said at least 35 people were cheated of approximately ₹50 lakh using fake accounts and burner phones.
- Who
- Powai police allege that 32-year-old BTech graduate Sonu Kumar recruited nine engineers from Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
- What
- Police say the group ran an alleged engineering-admission racket promising management- and NRI-quota seats and cheated at least 35 people.
- When
- The flats were raided on August 15; police said Kumar had been unemployed since 2024.
- Where
- The alleged operation was based in three rented flats in Viman Nagar, Pune, after the accused were traced near Pune airport.
- Why
- Police allege that Kumar used his knowledge of admission procedures to make money after failing to find steady employment.
- Alleged mastermind
- Sonu Kumar, 32, a BTech graduate and MIT College, Pune alumnus
- People recruited
- Nine unemployed engineers from Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh
- Alleged victims
- At least 35 people
- Estimated amount
- Approximately ₹50 lakh
- Promised seats
- Engineering seats through management and NRI quotas
- Police action
- Three Viman Nagar flats were raided on August 15
- Methods alleged
- Burner phones, SIM cards and fake Instagram and Facebook accounts