Gandhinagar: A former professor thought he was helping students build a future abroad. Instead, he now claims he was left repaying more than Rs 70 lakh after trusting an ex-student, now an immigration consultant, who promised Canada PRs and New Zealand work permits. The money was collected from nine aspiring migrants over nearly two years. When the promised visas never arrived, the professor says he was forced to borrow money and even pledge family jewellery to refund them.The complainant, who operates multiple schools in Idar, alleges that the accused collected money over nearly two years while assuring applicants that their immigration cases were progressing smoothly.The complainant said that the accused was his student at a commerce college in Gandhinagar. The two reconnected in 2023 and discussed overseas education and immigration opportunities for students.“The accused claimed that he successfully handled Canada PR and New Zealand work permit applications through his Gandhinagar-based consultancy. Trusting his former student, the professor began referring candidates from his coaching and consultancy centre who were interested in moving abroad,” said police.Police said nine students from Ahmedabad and Mehsana districts subsequently enrolled for immigration services. Between April 2023 and June 2024, they allegedly paid a total of Rs 70.2 lakh through RTGS transfers, cheques and cash payments for processing Canada PR and New Zealand work permit applications.The complainant alleged that Jaimin repeatedly assured applicants that their files were moving ahead and that approvals were only a matter of time. To support those claims, he allegedly produced employment contracts and job offer letters purportedly issued by a company based in New Zealand.However, despite waiting for more than two years, none of the applicants received the promised visas, work permits or permanent residency approvals. As doubts grew, the complainant contacted the New Zealand company directly. According to the FIR, the company responded via email stating that the job offer letters were fake and had never been issued by it.The complaint further states that as students began demanding their money back, the complainant found himself under mounting pressure. To protect his reputation and maintain the trust of those he had referred, he allegedly arranged funds by taking loans, borrowing from relatives and friends, and pledging family jewellery before repaying the entire amount to the applicants.Based on the complaint, police have registered a case against the accused for alleged cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery.
