Idukki: Five people have been arrested for allegedly syphoning off Rs 6 crores under the guise of admission to prestigious nursing colleges in Bengaluru. 

Lijo Jacob (37), Jithin Thomas (30), Mridul Joseph (32), Justin James (32) and KT Anoop (32) were arrested on the basis of the complaint filed by six parents before Thankamani police station in Idukki. 

The accused founded a charitable trust named 'Devamrutham' in 2021.
A year later, they assured the parents admission for their children at nursing colleges in Bengaluru and convinced them to avail interest-free loans of Rs 3 lakh each from a private bank in Mumbai. The loan amount, which must be paid for course fees and other expenditures at the college, was eventually transferred to the trust's account. 

Besides this, the accused also collected Rs 25,000 from each student as a processing charge. However, the fraud was discovered when the students were expelled from their colleges within a week after receiving the admission due to the failure to pay the course fees. 

Later, the parents arrived at the agency and created a ruckus, forcing the accused to return the students' certificates. However, the victims of the fraud are now being burdened by bank loans coupled with interest. 

Almost 30 students were cheated in the scam in the Idukki district alone. There are several cases registered against the accused in various police stations across the state. More people are believed to be involved in the scam.