PhD Holder and UPSC Trainer Held for Rs 2.46 Crore Cyber Fraud on Pune University
PhD Holder and UPSC Trainer Held for Rs 2.46 Crore Cyber Fraud on Pune University
Pune police have arrested a 34-year-old engineer with a PhD from the UK and experience training UPSC aspirants for masterminding a cyber fraud that cheated a private university of Rs 2.46 crore.
The accused, Seetaiah Kilaru, a resident of Yapral in Hyderabad, allegedly posed as a senior IIT Bombay professor to trick the university administration into transferring large sums under the pretext of fees for government-funded research projects with DRDO.
How the Fraud Worked
- On receiving a message from someone impersonating a former SPPU Chancellor, the university was introduced to a fake IIT Bombay professor.
- Fraudulent emails claimed approvals for drone and AI research projects worth over Rs 100 crore.
- The university, believing the claims, transferred three instalments — Rs 56 lakh, Rs 46 lakh, and Rs 1.44 crore — between July 25 and August 26.
- The scam collapsed when the fake professor failed to show up for MoU signings. Verification with IIT Bombay exposed the fraud.
Police Action
Following an FIR filed on September 6, Pune cybercrime police traced phone numbers, emails, and bank accounts linked to the fraud. Kilaru was arrested on September 21 in Hyderabad, brought to Pune, and remanded to police custody until September 28.
Authorities seized 10 debit cards, 13 passbooks, 15 cheque books, laptops, mobile phones, two cars, and gold purchase receipts as proceeds of crime.
The Accused’s Profile
Kilaru’s background has shocked investigators:
- Electronics & Telecommunication engineer with a PhD from a UK university.
- Briefly worked at the University of Hyderabad.
- Cleared UPSC prelims and mains twice, taught at a UPSC academy.
- Has previous fraud and impersonation cases registered in 2023.
Police said the case underscores how high academic credentials do not guarantee integrity, and investigations are ongoing to identify accomplices and trace the siphoned funds.
