IAS Coaching Director Held Hostage, Robbed of ₹1.89 Crore by Former Student in Bhopal

In a shocking case of deception and armed robbery, the director of a Delhi-based IAS coaching institute was allegedly held captive and forced to transfer ₹1.89 crore by a former student and his associates in Madhya Pradesh’s capital, police said on Sunday.

The victim, Shubhra Ranjan , was reportedly lured to Bhopal on April 29 on the pretext of opening a new coaching centre and conducting a seminar . According to police, she was taken to a rented house where the accused, armed with a pistol, held her hostage and threatened her life.

During her captivity, Ranjan was allegedly coerced into transferring large sums of money into multiple bank accounts controlled by the accused. In a calculated attempt to prevent suspicion and muffle her cries for help, the perpetrators organised a Sundarkand recital at the premises, creating a façade of a religious gathering.

The main conspirator has been identified as Priyank Sharma , a former student of the victim’s institute. Police said Sharma, along with accomplices from Datia and Rewa districts, meticulously planned the crime.

Following her release, Ranjan approached the police on April 30, prompting swift action. Authorities froze her bank account as part of efforts to trace and recover the transferred funds.

In a dramatic turn, Sharma allegedly attempted to evade arrest by getting himself admitted to AIIMS Bhopal , citing illness. However, police teams tracked him down using technical surveillance and apprehended him from the hospital despite resistance from his family members.

So far, six accused have been arrested , including Rohit Malviya, Deepak Bhagat, Vikas alias Vicky Dahiya, Kunal Yadav and Pankaj Ahirwar. One accused remains absconding, while the role of another individual is under investigation.

Police officials said the weapon used in the crime has been recovered , and further investigation is underway to establish the full extent of the conspiracy and recover the defrauded amount.