Seat blocking scam: CCB seeks help of police from other states

The Bangalore police, who are investigating the ‘seat blocking scam’ in COMED-K, have asked their counterparts outside Karnataka to verify the bona fides of students from their respective states who have been selected for MBBS courses in the City.

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has sent notices to the police in other states to verify the bona fides of the students from their jurisdiction who have got medical seats through COMED-K entrance test. The police have been asked to visit the houses and colleges of these students and submit a verification report, CCB sources said.

Education/examination boards in these states have also been asked to verify the educational certificates of the selected students and confirm whether they are genuine. A team of policemen will be present while the document verification is done, the sources added.

In May this year, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) had detained more than 25 students when they were trying to flee to their respective states after attending COMED-K entrance examination in the City. The students were detained when the CISF personnel checked their identity cards and admission ticket and found discrepancies in them. 

The arrested students were said to be pursuing medical courses in various places in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand and other states. When the students clear the exam and get a medical seat, they surrender it to the college just before the admissions close. The college then converts the available seat into management quota and allots it to other candidates for a hefty sum, the sources explained.

On information given by those arrested at the KIA, the police raided a lodge in Chickpet area and arrested more students and two agents who were allegedly arranging proxy candidates.

The two had confessed that they have been operating for several years and were involved in a similar scam that came to light in 2013. They used to visit different medical colleges in the country and lure poor students with money, to write the COMED-K entrance exam on behalf of others. They would offer Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 to each student, sources said.