Unmasking Deceit: Symbiosis Staff and Student’s Brave Crusade Against MBA Admission Scam Exposed

Symbiosis International University Scam: Officials Expose Admission Racket

Pune police have booked individuals allegedly running a cyber scam, defrauding prospective students with false promises of admission to Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) on its MBA course. According to reports, the scamsters used a YouTube ad displaying the SIBM logo, promising "direct admission" in exchange for a hefty sum.

An HR official from Symbiosis reported the incident to the Deccan police station, filing a First Information Report (FIR). The ad, circulating on a YouTube page, claimed to offer standard admission in the MBA program without specifying any entrance exams or requirements, other than a direct payment. The ad displayed a phone number for those seeking to inquire further about the "complete budget" for admission. The official immediately informed the SIBM director about the development and further consulted senior authorities, who asked them to gather more information about the scam.

A girl student, at the behest of Symbiosis authorities, contacted the phone number displayed in the YouTube ad, inquiring about admission. To her surprise, she received a response from a person on WhatsApp, promising admission to SIBM in exchange for Rs 51 lakh as fees and Rs 20 lakh as "donation / capitation". Over the course of two days, she received multiple calls and messages from the same number, agreeing to place her name in the "merit list" for a one-time payment of Rs 5 lakh. The scammers even asked her to visit their office in Baner, which the student shared with Symbiosis authorities.

On March 30, Symbiosis staff members visited the office, posing as seekers of an MBA admission, and found a plush setup. The man claiming to be the "authorised representative" of Symbiosis assured them a seat for Rs 5 lakh, stating that, following the payment, they would receive an email from Symbiosis within a month, which would allow them to pay the remaining admission fees. However, failure to pay the remaining amount of Rs 15 lakh would result in the cancellation of admission and seizure of original documents.

FIR registered on April 2, against the accused under sections 319, 336, 340 (1), 340 (2), 61, 62 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act and sections of the Information Technology Act. An investigation is underway, with the crime branch of the Pune city police taking charge of the case.

According to the FIR, Symbiosis follows a transparent admissions process, ascertained through SNAPS (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test), with course fees dispersed without any supplement costs like donation and capitation, information widely published on Symbiosis’s official website.

Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/symbiosis-mba-admission-fraud-youtube-ad-fir-9937646/
Category : Cities,Pune
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Publish Date: 2025-04-11 07:56:00