Andheri coaching class director held for cheating students

The director of a coaching institute in Andheri was arrested on Sunday for allegedly cheating 11 students to the tune of Rs11 lakh. The man, identified by the police as Ambrish Kumar, had promised to enroll the students in the classes and help them to clear the civil services exam.

The DN Nagar police said Kumar operated Paradigm IAS Academy at NADCO shopping centre in Andheri (West). The students had applied in February to join the classes.

They said it is possible that there are more students who may have been cheated.

Some of the students complained to the police in February itself, alleging that Kumar had promised to prepare them for the UPSC and MPSC exams and that they would be given quality education by prominent professors.

"Kumar did not fulfill the promises. He himself took the lectures and taught all subjects on his own," said Rajendra Chavan, senior police inspector.

Komal Singh, 22, one of the students, said, "I paid fees of Rs95,000 in one installment and Kumar promised that he would teach me for prelims, mains and the interview till I cleared the exam. But he never gave any study notes. He took tests but never gave the results. He didn't complete even a single subject."

Rita Kori, 26, another student aiming for the IAS, said she paid Rs70,000 and joined the classes in February last year. "Kumar told me that till I cleared all the exams I could attend the classes. The quality of teaching was very poor and he taught alone," she said.

The police official said they examined the complaints and after verifying the facts arrested Kumar on a charge of cheating. He was produced in court and remanded to police custody till May 21.