Mangalore: The seat blocking scam in Karnataka could well be worth over Rs. 700 Crore, involving some top engineering and medical colleges across the state. 16 agents have been arrested along with 35 students who are supposed to have faked their identity to appear for the competitive exam comedk (Consortium of Medical, Engineering, and Dental Colleges of Karnataka.)

A commission has been formed by the Karnataka government to monitor investigations. Over 300 Comedk medical seats surrendered last year are under the scanner, sources privy to an investigation into the impersonation scam in private institutions said. Sleuths of the central crime branch investigating the scam had on Saturday raided the office of Comedk and seized several documents. They are now collating information on those who surrendered their merit seats, and investigating whether there is a link between the seats and the scam said, Yogish Shetty Jeppu, Founder president of Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike. 

Speaking in a press meet held at Press Club he said that,  it is alleged impersonators used to write the exam, block seats and later surrender them. The surrendered seats would then be transferred to the management quota, each fetching up to Rs. 50 lakh.

Five more agents allegedly involved in the scam are in police custody. Police sources said all the five arrested agents are from Bangalore. Thirty five impersonators and nine agents have been arrested since May 11th the day they were leaving the city by flight and train, he said. 

The Comedk under graduate Entrance Test for admission to private professional colleges was held on May 11.

The scam has been going on for three years now. Last year nearly 300 students surrendered their seats to college. More than 200 students could be involved in the scam and search is on for 75 students who made bookings in bulk to take the exam through a courier company in Rajasthan. The person behind the scandal is yet to be caught.

The scam was unearthed after the CISF arrested a few people at the Bangalore airport.

Agents first identify potential targets. Most of these students manage to crack the exam ar repeatedly by faking documents. They often cannot afford to pay fees in a private college and earn around Rs. 1-5 lakh. Just before the admissions close, they surrender the seats. The college then converts.

It into management quota and demand a huge sum ranging from Rs. five lakh to one crore for a seat. More than 1,20,000 students appeared for the exam in May this year, he said.