My College Khoj

Key Points

• My College Khoj, a Pune-based consultancy, is implicated in a scam defrauding students of lakhs of rupees by promising overseas education and visa services, with a notable case involving a Pune woman duped of Rs 2.06 lakh.

• The firm allegedly used forged documents, including fake bank statements, to deceive clients seeking admission to foreign universities, particularly in Italy.

• Four individuals associated with My College Khoj have been charged, with two arrested, following an FIR filed at Vimantal Police Station in Pune.

• Allegations include cheating, forgery, and counterfeiting, with reports of multiple victims across Maharashtra, including Nagpur and Thane.

• The scam’s exposure, lack of regulatory oversight, and ongoing legal action pose severe financial, reputational, and legal risks for the firm and its clients.

Overview

My College Khoj is a consultancy based in Viman Nagar, Pune, India, that claims to facilitate higher education and employment opportunities abroad, primarily in Italy. Operating from an office in Phoenix East Court, the firm markets itself through its website (mycollegekhoj.com) and social media, offering services such as university admissions, visa processing, and document preparation for international education. The company targets students and professionals seeking overseas opportunities, promising comprehensive assistance for a fee. However, investigations reveal that My College Khoj has engaged in fraudulent practices, including fabricating documents and failing to deliver promised services, leading to significant financial losses for clients.

Allegations and Concerns

• Cheating and Fraud: My College Khoj is accused of defrauding clients by promising admission and visas to foreign institutions, particularly Parthnop College in Naples, Italy, while failing to deliver. A 24-year-old woman was duped of Rs 2.06 lakh after paying for services that never materialized.

• Forgery and Counterfeiting: The firm allegedly provided forged bank statements and used fake bank seals to deceive clients and authorities. Accused individuals were caught stamping fake documents during a police raid.

• Multiple Victims: Investigations indicate at least four other aspirants were similarly defrauded, with reports suggesting hundreds of victims across Maharashtra, including Nagpur, with losses ranging from Rs 2 to 5 lakh per person.

• Unethical Practices: The consultancy gained clients’ trust through attractive offers on social media and in-person assurances, only to provide evasive responses when questioned about delays or failures.

• Lack of Transparency: My College Khoj lacks verifiable credentials, regulatory oversight, or affiliations with recognized educational institutions, raising concerns about its legitimacy.

Customer Feedback

Customer feedback for My College Khoj is overwhelmingly negative, with no positive reviews documented in the sources:

• Positive Feedback: No positive testimonials or reviews are reported, which is highly unusual for an education consultancy and suggests either a lack of legitimate operations or suppression of positive sentiment.

• Negative Feedback: Victims have expressed significant distress over financial losses and unfulfilled promises. Smruti Swadhin Khaduala, the primary complainant, reported paying Rs 2.06 lakh for admission and visa services that were never provided, stating in her FIR, “The accused assured me of total assistance in obtaining the Visa for Italy and admission… but failed to deliver.” A Nagpur-based victim, cited in Nagpur Today, described being “swindled out of substantial sums” for fabricated documents and unfulfilled promises of Italian university admissions. These accounts reflect widespread distrust and financial harm.

• The absence of positive feedback and the presence of multiple scam allegations indicate severe client dissatisfaction, likely exacerbated by the firm’s deceptive practices.

Risk Considerations

• Financial Risk: Clients face significant financial losses, with funds paid to My College Khoj unlikely to be recovered due to the firm’s fraudulent operations. The lack of regulatory oversight increases the risk of further scams.

• Reputational Risk: The firm’s exposure as a scam operation has severely damaged its credibility, deterring potential clients and partners in the competitive education consultancy sector.

• Legal Risk: Ongoing criminal investigations, arrests, and charges of cheating, forgery, and counterfeiting expose My College Khoj and its operators to prosecution, fines, or imprisonment. Clients may also face legal complications if involved with forged documents.

• Operational Risk: The firm’s operations are vulnerable to collapse due to legal actions, loss of client trust, and potential regulatory interventions targeting unregistered consultancies.

• Market Risk: The education consultancy market in India is highly competitive, and My College Khoj’s negative reputation will drive clients to reputable, regulated competitors.

Business Relations and Associations

• Key Individuals: The accused include Amit Kumar (38, Magarpatta City), Pratima Bhati (34, Magarpatta City), Saurabh Manoj Jha (26, Kharadi), and Poonam Chandan Singh Rajput (25, Ramwadi). Jha and Rajput have been arrested, while Kumar and Bhati remain at large.

• No Institutional Partnerships: No affiliations with recognized universities, visa authorities, or regulatory bodies are documented, isolating My College Khoj from credible networks.

• Operational Structure: The firm operates from a single office in Viman Nagar, with no evidence of broader organizational ties or partnerships. Its reliance on social media marketing (e.g., Instagram) suggests a small-scale, possibly ad-hoc operation.

• Potential Illicit Networks: The use of forged documents and fake bank seals suggests possible connections to broader fraudulent networks, though specific links are not identified in the sources.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Legal Issues: An FIR has been registered at Vimantal Police Station against four individuals under sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating (Section 420), forgery (Section 467), and counterfeiting (Section 471). Two accused, Saurabh Jha and Poonam Rajput, were arrested during a police raid on February 2, 2024, where fake stamps and bank statements were recovered. The case remains under investigation, with potential for additional charges as more victims come forward.

• Financial Status: No records of bankruptcy or unpaid debts are reported for My College Khoj, but the firm’s reliance on client payments for fraudulent services suggests financial instability. Funds paid by victims, such as Rs 2.06 lakh by Smruti Khaduala, were transferred to personal accounts (e.g., Pratima Bhati’s), indicating potential misappropriation.

• Regulatory Compliance: My College Khoj lacks registration with educational or immigration authorities, operating outside regulatory frameworks. This increases exposure to crackdowns by agencies like the Ministry of External Affairs or local police.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

My College Khoj presents a high-risk profile due to its confirmed involvement in a scam defrauding students seeking overseas education. The FIR, arrests, and recovery of forged documents substantiate allegations of cheating, forgery, and counterfeiting, indicating a deliberate intent to deceive clients. The absence of positive feedback, regulatory oversight, or credible affiliations, combined with a fraud risk score of 0/5, suggests My College Khoj is not a legitimate consultancy but a fraudulent operation. The firm’s reliance on social media and small-scale operations points to a lack of institutional stability, while its aggressive deception tactics erode trust. Engagement with My College Khoj is highly inadvisable, given the severe financial, legal, and reputational risks. The ongoing investigation and potential for additional victims underscore the need for caution.

Pros:

• No confirmed bankruptcy, suggesting the firm may still have operational funds (though likely from illicit sources).

• Social media presence indicates some marketing reach, if legitimate services were offered.

Cons:

• Confirmed scam with multiple victims, arrests, and charges of cheating, forgery, and counterfeiting.

• Lack of transparency, regulatory oversight, and credible partnerships undermines legitimacy.

• High financial and legal risks due to fraudulent practices and ongoing police investigation.

Cautionary Advice

Avoid any engagement with My College Khoj due to its confirmed fraudulent activities and high-risk profile. Do not pay for services or share personal documents until independent verification confirms the firm’s legitimacy, which is unlikely given current evidence. Research consultancies on platforms like X or education forums, and prioritize firms registered with the Ministry of External Affairs or affiliated with recognized universities. If already involved, stop contact immediately, save all evidence (e.g., emails, receipts, chats), inform your bank, and report to the police or the Ministry of External Affairs. Victims should consider joining existing complaints, such as at Vimantal Police Station, to strengthen legal action.

Key Citations

• Lokmat Times, “My College Khoj Scam: Pune Woman Duped of Rs 2 Lakh by Fake Overseas Education Agents; FIR Registered,” published February 3, 2024, accessed via provided link.

• Nagpur Today, “Dreams Sold, Trust Betrayed: Nagpur’s Youth Deceived by Consultancy Fraud in Pune,” published February 9, 2024, accessed via web search.

• Punekar News, “Cheating Students for Admission: Pune Police Nab Two in ‘My College Khoj’ Scam,” published February 5, 2024, accessed via web search.