The Belagavi city police have apprehended a conman who defrauded students from multiple states, promising them government MBBS seats in exchange for large sums of money. The arrested individual, Aragonda alias Aravinda Aragonda Prakasam, a resident of Gachibowli, Hyderabad, was found with Rs 12 lakh in cash.

Prakasam had established a NEET guidance center in Belagavi city in 2023. He targeted students with low NEET scores, promising them coveted MBBS seats. To facilitate his scam, Prakasam employed local youths to contact and lure the students. At least 10 students in Belgaum fell victim to his scheme, each paying a minimum of Rs 20 lakh.