A shocking promise of "any course, any degree from a recognised university" has led Lucknow police to dismantle a sophisticated interstate racket that sold academic qualifications for a price. The operation, which began as a routine police action in Gomtinagar on December 21, exposed a well-organized syndicate allegedly turning education into a purchasable commodity.
The Arrests and the Kingpin
The eastern zone crime and surveillance team of Lucknow police arrested three individuals accused of running this extensive fake degree operation. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Shashank Singh stated that what seemed like a standard arrest quickly revealed a large-scale, organized academic forgery supply chain.
The arrested men have been identified as Akhilesh Kumar, who holds a legitimate PhD in sociology from a private university in Odisha; Satendra Dwivedi (32), an MSc in chemistry from a government university in Kanpur; and Saurabh Sharma (35), a diploma holder from a private institute. The involvement of highly educated individuals, particularly the PhD holder, highlights the racket's sophisticated nature.
Massive Haul of Forged Documents
During the raid, police made a staggering recovery. They seized 923 forged marksheets and degrees belonging to at least 25 different universities. The haul also included 15 fake university seals, laptops, hard disks, printers, registers, and Rs 2 lakh in cash. An FIR has been registered at the Gomtinagar police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gomtinagar, Brij Narayan Singh, the forged documents were meticulously designed to appear authentic. The syndicate created documents in the names of several institutions across India, including:
- Swami Vivekanand Subharti University
- North East Christian University
- Maharaja Agrasen Himalayan Garhwal University
- Kalinga University
- JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth
- Sabarmati University
Modus Operandi and Client Base
The gang operated with a clear business model, targeting a specific demographic. "The accused targeted candidates who failed to meet eligibility criteria for jobs or higher education," explained DCP Shashank Singh. They promised these aspirants degrees that could pass routine verification checks.
The price for a "ready-made" degree was not fixed. Investigators revealed that the gang charged anywhere between Rs 25,000 and a whopping Rs 4 lakh, depending on the course and the perceived credibility of the university being forged. Popular courses on offer included BTech, BCA, MCA, MSc, and BA.
The seizure of multiple digital devices and financial records points to a highly organized operation. Police believe these devices contain detailed client lists and payment trails. "We are analysing digital data to identify beneficiaries who secured jobs using fake degrees," a senior officer confirmed.
Broader Implications and Investigation
This case sheds light on a critical vulnerability in the employment and education sectors. Human resources experts note that such rackets thrive because many private companies rely solely on submitted documents for verification, without rigorous background checks.
The Lucknow police are now coordinating with the universities whose names were fraudulently used, as well as with potential employers, to trace forged documents already in circulation. The goal is to identify individuals who may have used these fake credentials to gain employment or academic admission unfairly.
This bust serves as a stark warning about the underground market for academic credentials and underscores the need for more robust verification systems by educational institutions and employers across India.
