Thiruvananthapuram: The main accused in a nationwide medical seat fraud case was arrested by a Crime Branch team from Uttar Pradesh. Prashant Agarwal, a native of Hathras, had allegedly collected large sums of money from students and parents by promising medical college admissions through online and social media advertisements. He had been absconding for five years.

The arrest was carried out by a special investigation team led by DySP K Sajeev under the supervision of Thiruvananthapuram Crime Branch SP Sudarsanan and on the directions of Crime Branch ADGP H Venkatesh. Agarwal had allegedly run a widespread operation from Delhi and Noida, targeting families seeking medical seats in colleges across India.

In 2020, a resident of Parasuvaikkal lodged a complaint stating that Agarwal cheated him of ₹20 lakh. The amount was collected directly and through bank transfers after Agarwal promised to secure a seat at D Y Patil College in Mumbai. He even handed over a fabricated admission letter within the college campus.

The case was first registered at the Neyyattinkara police station and was later transferred to the Crime Branch for detailed investigation. 

The Crime Branch team, which captured him, included ASI Christopher, Shibu Y R, SCPOs Suresh Kumar M and Sreeraj S V, and CPO Ajith S Agarwal. He was produced before the Neyyattinkara JFCM-1 court and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.