Yes, placecom members at new IIMs have historically hidden good candidates from recruiters to favour their friends, per the ex-placecom AMA host: "It depends on the placement cell of the college. In my IIM it is highly regulated recently, so you can't do things like this. But sadly it happened a few years ago and I know from other IIM placecom friends, it still happens.
" This is an open secret in IIM placement circles. The mechanisms: placecom members nominate specific CVs for recruiter shortlisting, delay CV delivery to certain students, or explicitly tell recruiters "this candidate is not interested" when they are. Victims: students outside placecom social circles, students who opposed placecom decisions, rival candidates for top placements.
At IIM Rohtak, Ranchi, and similar new IIMs with small batch sizes (150-300), this politics is more pronounced than at larger institutions. Defensive measures for non-placecom students: establish direct contact with recruiters via LinkedIn, alumni networks, and campus referrals before placecom-mediated shortlisting begins. Apply via external job portals for roles you know are being hired on campus.
Keep a paper trail of your CV submissions to placecom. IIM A/B/C (Rs 26-27L fees, Rs 34-35 LPA avg) have more regulated placecoms with explicit anti-discrimination policies. At new IIMs, the risk is real and requires proactive defence.
Check your eligibility at collvera.