India, Nov. 6 -- For aspiring doctors, every seat in a medical college is worth its weight in gold, a fact private medical colleges in Maharashtra are allegedly exploiting through alleged malpractices in admissions to undergraduate courses.

According to complaints filed with the Admission Regulatory Authority (ARA) and shared with the State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell, colleges are rejecting candidates on flimsy grounds, using illegal means such as phishing to block seats, and demanding fees upfront from students eligible for government scholarships.

Students, meanwhile, are taking the fall. Sanjana Kori from Mumbai, secured admission to the BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) course in the first CAP round in an Alibag...