Hyderabad Man Posing as IIT Professor Arrested for ₹10 Lakh Student Scam
A 26-year-old Hyderabad resident, D. Ravi Kiran, has been arrested for posing as an IIT Hyderabad professor. He allegedly swindled students from a Khammam college out of ₹10 lakh by promising fraudulent training programmes through forged documents and WhatsApp group communication.
Highlights
- •A 26-year-old Hyderabad man was arrested for posing as an IIT Hyderabad professor.
- •The suspect cheated students in Khammam out of ₹10 lakh through a fake training programme.
- •He utilized a WhatsApp group to gain trust and shared forged MoUs to validate his claims.
- •Local police successfully traced and arrested the individual after a student filed a formal complaint.
In a significant case of academic fraud, local authorities in Hyderabad have apprehended a 26-year-old man who allegedly posed as a professor from IIT Hyderabad to deceive college students. The suspect, identified as D. Ravi Kiran, stands accused of swindling students out of ₹10 lakh by orchestrating a fake training scheme.
Details of the Fraudulent IIT Hyderabad Professor Scheme
The investigation into this educational scam began after a student from a private institution in Khammam filed an official complaint. According to reports provided by law enforcement, the perpetrator had successfully infiltrated a student WhatsApp group associated with the private college. By assuming the false identity of an IIT Hyderabad faculty member, he managed to gain the trust of the students.
To lend credibility to his fraudulent operation, D. Ravi Kiran distributed fabricated documentation, including forged Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). He claimed that these documents authorized him to conduct exclusive training programmes for the students. Through these deceptive tactics, he successfully convinced his victims to pay substantial fees via online transactions, ultimately accumulating a total of ₹10 lakh.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigations
Following the receipt of the complaint, the Khammam Cyber Crime division launched a swift investigation. Cyber Crime DSP Phaninder, who briefed the media on the case, confirmed that the suspect was traced to Hyderabad and subsequently taken into custody. The police have registered a formal case against D. Ravi Kiran, and further investigations are underway to determine if other individuals or institutions were targeted by his deceptive activities.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for students and academic institutions regarding the importance of verifying the credentials of individuals offering professional or technical training. The use of digital platforms like WhatsApp by scammers to exploit students highlights a growing concern in the digital landscape of Cyber Crime in India. Authorities continue to advise students to cross-verify any offers or claims made by individuals purporting to represent prestigious institutions before engaging in any financial transactions.
