Fake MBBS seat scam busted: Pathanamthitta man posing as ‘gospel worker’ arrested

Thrissur West police on Sunday arrested a man on charges of cheating him by falsely promising MBBS seats under staff quota in Vellore Medical College. Detainee Jacob Thomas from Koodal in Pathanamthitta was arrested at Chennai International Airport while trying to escape to Malaysia.

Reports indicate that Thomas introduced himself as a gospel worker and convinced families from Kerala and other states that he had close links with the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore and the Anglican bishop.

Thomas lived in seven states, including Bihar, Haryana and Tamil Nadu, to avoid arrest. During his stay at Thakkalai in Kanyakumari, he allegedly cheated several people in Kerala. Victims reported losses ranging from Rs 60 to Rs 80 lakh.

After the district police chief issued a circular, authorities tracked Thomas in several states. The Chief Magistrate’s Court (CJM) in Thrissur also issued an arrest warrant.

Several cases are pending against him in multiple police stations in Kerala, including Thrissur West, Angamaly, Koratty, Pala, Pandalam and Adoor. A separate case is pending against him in Nagpur. This morning, Thomas was produced before a magistrate in Thrissur and was remanded in custody.

Additionally, police arrested Pastor Paul Gladson, who posed as a bishop, along with Pastors Vijayakumar, Anu Samuel and Reynard, Thomas’s son, for their involvement in the scam. Pala police arrested Anu Samuel in December 2022 and Adoor police arrested Reynard in May 2023. Thrissur West police arrested Paul in June 2024.