Gujarat College PTI arrested in Kutch for cheating 20 students of ₹4.48 lakh
Synopsis
A Gujarat College PTI with a PhD and multiple prior fraud cases allegedly used his position of trust to swindle around 20 students of ₹4.48 lakh — promising Air Force jobs and cricket team berths that never materialised. He used 10 phone numbers and seven handsets to stay off the radar before the police surveillance squad caught up with him in Kutch.
Key Takeaways
Pragnesh Barhat , 41 , a PTI at Gujarat College , was arrested in Anjar, Kutch , on Friday, 22 August .
He allegedly cheated around 20 students , with traced transactions totalling approximately ₹4.48 lakh .
Barhat promised victims jobs in the Indian Air Force and selection in state-level cricket teams .
He reportedly used 10 mobile numbers and changed 7 handsets to evade detection.
Police records show prior cases at four police stations across Gujarat, all involving cheating offences.
Barhat holds a PhD and has cleared both NET and GSET .
A Physical Training Instructor (PTI) attached to Gujarat College has been arrested in Anjar, Kutch district, for allegedly defrauding around 20 students by promising them jobs in the Indian Air Force and selection in state-level cricket teams, police said on Saturday, 22 August. Financial transactions worth approximately ₹4.48 lakh have so far been traced to students allegedly affected by the scheme.
The Arrest
The accused, Pragnesh Barhat, 41, was apprehended in Anjar, Kutch, at around 4:30 pm on Friday following a surveillance operation led by Police Inspector K.M. Bhuva and PSI P.B. Chaudhary, in-charge of the Surveillance Squad. Barhat was booked under Section 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with an Ellisbridge Police Station case, and police subsequently obtained his remand for further investigation.
How the Alleged Fraud Operated
According to police, Barhat allegedly exploited his position as a PTI to build trust with students, then collected money from them on the pretext of arranging Air Force employment and spots in state cricket teams. To evade detection, he reportedly used 10 different mobile phone numbers and changed approximately seven handsets during the period under scrutiny. Investigators are continuing to examine financial transactions and are looking into whether additional students may have been approached or defrauded beyond the current count.
A Repeat Offender, Police Say
This is not Barhat's first brush with the law. Police records show previous cases registered against him at B-Division Police Station in Rajkot City, Infocity Police Station in Gandhinagar, Nakhatrana Police Station in Kutch district, and Gandhigram-2 University Police Station in Rajkot — all involving allegations of cheating and breach-of-trust offences under BNS provisions. Notably, Barhat holds a PhD-level education and has cleared both the National Eligibility Test (NET) and the Gujarat State Eligibility Test (GSET).
Wider Context
The arrest comes in the wake of directions issued to police to actively trace habitual offenders involved in cheating and breach-of-trust cases across the state. This case fits a pattern of fraudsters targeting aspirational youth — particularly those seeking government jobs or sports career pathways — in Gujarat. The use of multiple SIM cards and handsets to evade detection points to a calculated, sustained operation rather than opportunistic fraud. Further investigation is underway.
Point of View
Coaches, PTIs — monetising the desperation of job-seeking youth. That a PhD-holder with prior cases at four police stations continued operating as a college instructor points to a systemic gap in background verification for educational appointments in Gujarat. The use of ten SIM cards and multiple handsets suggests this was not impulsive but methodical — raising the question of how many more students, beyond the current twenty, may not yet have come forward.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pragnesh Barhat and why was he arrested?
Pragnesh Barhat is a 41-year-old Physical Training Instructor formerly attached to Gujarat College. He was arrested in Anjar, Kutch, on 22 August for allegedly cheating around 20 students by collecting money in exchange for false promises of Indian Air Force jobs and state cricket team selection.
How much money was allegedly defrauded?
Police have so far traced financial transactions worth approximately ₹4.48 lakh linked to students allegedly affected by Barhat's scheme. Investigators are continuing to examine records and have not ruled out additional victims.
What charges have been filed against Barhat?
Barhat was arrested under Section 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with an Ellisbridge Police Station case. Police obtained his remand for further investigation after the arrest.
Does Barhat have prior criminal cases?
Yes. Police records show cases registered against him at B-Division Police Station in Rajkot City, Infocity Police Station in Gandhinagar, Nakhatrana Police Station in Kutch, and Gandhigram-2 University Police Station in Rajkot — all involving cheating and breach-of-trust allegations.
How did police trace Barhat?
The Surveillance Squad of the concerned police station placed Barhat's movements under watch and tracked him to Anjar in Kutch district. The operation was supervised by Police Inspector K.M. Bhuva, with PSI P.B. Chaudhary heading the surveillance team.
