Patna: The special cell of Delhi police, along with Patna police, on Tuesday arrested Prem Prakash Vidyarthi for duping Vijay Batra, a south Delhi resident, of Rs 25 lakh to get his daughter admitted into a medical college in Lucknow.

Batra had lodged a police complaint at Malviya Nagar police station in March.

Vidyarthi had duped Batra alongwith Sanjeev Singh of Hazratganj in Lucknow.

As per Batra's complaint, after her Class XII, his daughter appeared for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test last year. He received an SMS. The sender identified himself as Sanjeev Singh, director (admission cell), GCRG Group of Institute, based in Hazratganj, Lucknow. Sanjeev offered Batra's daughter admission into MBBS for Rs 25 lakh, claiming the institute had Medical Council of India (MCI) approval. On August 5, 2017, Sanjeev took Rs 15 lakh in cash from Batra's house.

Sanjeev also asked Batra to transfer Rs 10 lakh into his Axis Bank account, under the name of Prem Prakash Vidyarthi. To gain his confidence, he handed over two cheques of Rs 25 lakh, claiming he would refund the money if his daughter failed to get admission. Later, Batra realised the institute was de-recognised by MCI.

On August 19, Batra reached Sanjeev's office to demand the money but was told he will provide admission into other institutes. But when Batra insisted on getting the money, Sanjeev threatened him with dire consequences. A police officer at SK Puri police station who was in investigating team said: "Sanjeev neither paid the money nor disclosed the name of his accomplice Prem Prakash." Based on the complaint lodged by Batra in March, Delhi police had arrested Sanjeev and were looking for Prem Prakash.

Patna SSP said: "We have come to know that Prem Prakash, who runs a career counseling centre on Boring Road, used to visit Delhi and was also in contact with career counseling centres in New Delhi." The police claimed Prem Prakash had cheated several persons.

"Based on the complaint lodged by Batra, Delhi police were looking for Vidyarthi," senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj said. "The police got to know that Vidyarthi was hiding at his house in Patna. Delhi police along with local SK Puri police on Tuesday raided Vidyarthi's house, Amarkunj apartment near A.N. College under SK Puri police station area."