In a major breakthrough, Delhi Police dismantled a sophisticated counterfeit degree racket and arrested five individuals for manufacturing and selling forged academic certificates.
The busted syndicate was deeply embedded in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), operating through various coaching institutes and education consultancies. These centres peddled fake degrees, mark sheets, and migration certificates for hefty sums.
Special Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Devesh Chandra Srivastva said police recovered 228 fake mark sheets, 27 bogus degree certificates, and 20 forged migration documents from across India. Seized digital devices revealed over 5,000 soft copies of similar forged documents, spanning disciplines like BA, B.Tech, MBA, B.Ed, and BAMS.
The racket surfaced after credible intelligence pointed to fake degree deals in Delhi. The prime suspect, Vicky Harjani, was caught at his Paramhans Vidyapeeth in Netaji Subhash Place. His car and office housed 75 counterfeit documents linked to multiple state universities.
Subsequent arrests included Vivek Gupta (Noida), Satbir Singh (Faridabad), Narayan Jee (Bihar), and Avnish Kansal (currently jailed in Rajasthan). All were proprietors of education centres, targeting students who had failed or sought shortcuts to degrees for employment or further studies.
The scam’s reach extended to over 25 coaching centres. The gang used tele-callers, social media, and pamphlets to lure clients. Prices varied based on degree type, university name, and urgency.
Police suspect inside help from university staff and have launched deeper inquiries.