Mumbai: Charkop police have arrested a woman, Shraddha Vitthal Gadekar, who had been wanted for five months after she fled in connection with a fraud case involving a Kandivli-based firm. The firm allegedly cheated students on the pretext of facilitating higher education abroad.
The firm's owner, Stella Rakesh Mehta, and her husband, Rakesh Mehta, have been named as co-accused in the case. Police said multiple fraud cases have also been registered against the couple in Mumbai and Thane, and they allegedly duped several students of lakhs of rupees.
The arrest was made following a complaint filed by Dr. Nehal Joshi (52), a resident of Kandivli, who sought overseas education for his daughter. In October 2023, Joshi's daughter and her friend met Stella, Rakesh, and Gadekar, who assured them of admission and explained the process and fees, claiming they would transfer the amount to the university.
Joshi transferred Rs 10 lakh on August 1, 2024, and Rs 11,000 the next day to the company's account. However, the university later informed his daughter that no fees had been received. The fraud came to light when the daughter contacted the university directly.
Police investigations revealed that the accused had been operating a fraudulent consultancy, targeting students and their families. Gadekar had been absconding since the complaint was registered. She was finally apprehended by Charkop police and produced before a local court, which remanded her to police custody.
The case highlights the growing menace of fraudulent education consultancies that exploit students' aspirations for studying abroad. Authorities have urged students and parents to verify the credentials of such firms before making any payments.
