Nursing course scam: 23 students duped of Rs 33 lakh; Thane police register case

THANE: The Thane city police registered an offence against officials and employees of a Skill Institute for allegedly defrauding 23 students of Rs 33.17 lakh in the name of a nursing course.
The Skill Institute operated from a building near Thane Railway Station in 2021. Police filed charges against the institute’s owner, along with other staff members, the official informed.
The police further added that the institute failed to provide certificates after course completion and did not return students’ original documents. Instead, they shut the institution and fled, the official informed.
According to a complaint filed at Naupada Police Station, students discovered the institute through social media advertisements after completing their 12th-grade education.
Many enrolled in the nursing program, which was promoted as a three-year course with govt certification. The institute collected lakhs of rupees in educational fees from each student.
“During the admission process, the institute retained students’ original 10th and 12th-grade certificates, mark sheets, and school leaving certificates. Students took exams for the course in May 2024 and were told results would be available in December 2024,” the official said, quoting the complaint.
When December arrived and no results were provided, students questioned institute officials who demanded an additional Rs 20,000 for Maharashtra Nursing Council registration. Some students deposited this amount into a bank account but still received no certificates, the official informed.
When students attempted to visit the institute’s office to inquire further, they found it locked. Attempts to contact both owners proved futile as their mobile numbers were switched off.
Upon realising they were defrauded, students filed complaints with Naupada Police Station.
So far, 23 students have registered complaints, with the total fraud amounting to Rs 33.17 lakh. “We have launched probe into the case and all the other aspects including collecting the related documents is underway,” said a police officer.