UP Police Bust ₹100-Crore NEET Admission Scam Linked to Study Pathway

Consultancy Under Lens in One of UP’s Biggest Medical Admission Scams

Uttar Pradesh Police have unearthed what investigators describe as one of the largest medical admission fraud networks in recent years. A consultancy operating under the name “Study Pathway” is accused of orchestrating a nationwide scheme that promised MBBS seats in private medical colleges to NEET aspirants in exchange for huge payments.

According to police, the racket is suspected to have defrauded students and their families of over ₹100 crore. Two key accused—Prem Prakash Vidyarthi alias Abhinav Sharma and his associate Santosh Kumar—have been arrested. Both hail from Bihar and are believed to have been involved in similar operations across multiple states before the current case brought them under scrutiny.

The case highlights how desperation around medical admissions, especially for low-ranking NEET candidates, is being exploited by organised networks that combine aggressive marketing, forged documents and cleverly staged “consultancy” setups.

A Trail of Complaints and a Locked Office in Vibhutikhand

The probe reportedly began after a series of complaints were filed at the Vibhutikhand police station and with the Cyber Crime unit in Lucknow. Parents alleged that Study Pathway had taken hefty upfront amounts after assuring “confirmed MBBS seats” in private medical colleges, but stopped responding once money was paid.

When a police team visited the consultancy’s office in Vibhutikhand, they found it locked and abandoned. Staff were untraceable, phones went unanswered and no credible contact information was available at the premises—classic signs, investigators say, of a fly-by-night operation designed to shut down quickly after collections peak.

The complaints triggered a technical investigation, with officers examining call-detail records, device data and financial transactions. This digital trail eventually led them to a penthouse apartment in the Chinhat area of Lucknow, from where Prem Prakash was allegedly running the network.

Targeting Low-Rank NEET Aspirants with Data-Driven Outreach

Investigators say the accused relied heavily on purchased data sets to identify vulnerable targets. According to police, Study Pathway allegedly acquired large databases from marketing firms containing mobile numbers and contact details of NEET aspirants who had not secured high ranks.

These candidates were then contacted with personalised pitches, offering:

• “Assured” MBBS seats in private medical colleges under management or special quotas,
• Packages that included admission, hostel and documentation “support”,
• Detailed fee breakdowns meant to mimic genuine institutional offers.

To build credibility, the consultancy allegedly showed fabricated admission letters, forged seat-confirmation documents and doctored communication appearing to come from medical colleges. Many families, worried that their children would miss out on an MBBS seat, chose to trust these materials and transferred large sums.

Fake Bank Accounts in the Name of Hind Medical College

One of the most serious findings in the investigation is the alleged misuse of the name and logo of Hind Medical College, Barabanki. Police say the accused opened and operated multiple fake bank accounts using the college’s identity, creating the impression that funds were being deposited directly with an established institution.

Money collected from victims across India was reportedly routed through these accounts using:

• Demand drafts prepared in the name of the medical college,
• Online transfers into accounts that appeared to belong to the institution,
• Large cash deposits coordinated by field agents.

Several complainants have told investigators that after making these payments they were provided with fake admission approvals and call letters. In many cases, families had liquidated savings, borrowed heavily or sold assets to raise the required amounts, only to later discover that there was no admission and no possibility of getting their money back.

Night Raid in Chinhat: Arrests and Seizure of Digital Evidence

Acting on electronic surveillance inputs, a police team conducted a late-night raid in the Chinhat locality. Prem Prakash and Santosh Kumar were detained from a penthouse apartment and later formally arrested after questioning.

From the premises, officers recovered:

• Three mobile phones allegedly used to coordinate with victims and agents,
• Six computers containing records of admissions, payment tracking sheets and contact databases,
• Forged seals, cheque books, PAN and Aadhaar cards linked to multiple accounts,
• ₹4.98 lakh in cash, suspected to be a fraction of the total collections.

Investigators believe the electronic data seized from these devices will be central to mapping the racket’s hierarchy, identifying additional accomplices and tracking financial flows across states.

Psychological Pressure: “Pay Now or Lose the Seat”

According to police, the fraud thrived on psychological pressure tactics. Families already under emotional stress due to low NEET scores were told that:

• Seats were extremely limited and would be allocated on a “first-pay, first-confirm” basis,
• Any delay in payment would mean the opportunity would pass to another aspirant,
• Authorities and college officials were already “on board,” so there was nothing to worry about.

Staff reportedly used rehearsed scripts and professional-looking printed material to make the operation appear legitimate. The combination of urgency, fear of missing out, and apparently authentic paperwork created a powerful push for parents to act quickly and transfer funds.

Investigators say this psychological manipulation—rather than complex technology—was at the heart of the scam’s success, and allowed the network to operate for an extended period before a critical mass of complaints finally triggered a full-scale probe.

“National-Level Network”: More Victims and Accused Expected

Senior officers associated with the case have indicated that the Study Pathway operation is unlikely to be restricted to Lucknow alone. Early analysis of bank statements, digital payment trails and travel data suggests that the accused may have been active in multiple cities and states, using similar consultancy setups to target families.

Police have described the racket as a “national-level network” and have publicly stated that more arrests are expected. Investigating teams are currently:

• Mapping phone and messaging app communication with prospective students and intermediaries,
• Coordinating with banks and financial institutions to flag suspicious transactions,
• Reaching out to potential victims who may not yet have filed formal complaints.

Authorities have urged anyone who paid money to Study Pathway or related entities for MBBS admissions to come forward, so that the total scale of financial loss can be documented and a stronger prosecution can be mounted.

What the Case Signals for NEET Ecosystem and Families

The Study Pathway case is a stark reminder of how high-stakes entrance exams like NEET are fuelling parallel, unregulated markets that promise shortcuts to coveted MBBS seats. While the majority of aspirants proceed only through official counselling routes, even a small segment turning to such consultancies creates fertile ground for organised fraud.

For families, the case underlines several red flags:

• Any promise of “guaranteed” MBBS admission outside official counselling channels,
• Requests to send funds to personal or unfamiliar institutional accounts,
• Pressure to take decisions within hours or days without verifiable documentation,
• Reluctance to share official receipts, acknowledgements or traceable agreements.

For regulators and law enforcement, the scam reinforces the need for better data-sharing between admission authorities, banks and cybercrime units so that suspicious patterns—such as repeated large drafts or transfers in the name of a particular college—can be flagged early.

Shunyatax Global Insight: Strengthening Compliance Around Education Payments

At Shunyatax Global, we see this case not just as a criminal law-and-order issue, but as a compliance and consumer-protection challenge that sits at the intersection of education, finance and digital ecosystems. Large sums now routinely move through bank accounts, UPI and online gateways in the name of admissions, coaching and counselling. When these flows are not accompanied by strong documentation and verification, the risk of fraud increases sharply.

Families can protect themselves by insisting on:

• Making payments only to verified institutional accounts listed on official websites,
• Cross-checking college claims with regulatory bodies and official counselling portals,
• Documenting every transfer with receipts, emails and contracts, however small the amount,
• Seeking independent advice before committing large sums to any private intermediary.

For institutions and financial intermediaries, stronger onboarding checks, transaction monitoring and risk-based alerts around “admission-linked” payments can make it much harder for such networks to thrive.

To understand the compliance, risk and documentation best practices that can help you navigate the education and admissions ecosystem more safely, visit Shunyatax Global Services. Our advisory team offers insights on fraud risk, digital payments governance and financial due diligence that can support both individuals and institutions.