In a significant crackdown, the Lucknow police have widened their investigation into a major fake marksheet and degree racket operating from the state capital. Officials revealed on Wednesday that seven more suspected members of the gang have come under the police radar, deepening the probe into an elaborate fraud network believed to have deep links with universities across India.
Gang's Operations and Massive Financial Scale
Investigators disclosed that the racket has been active since 2021 and has generated illicit revenue of nearly Rs 15 crore. The gang is accused of selling approximately 1,500 forged marksheets and degrees for a hefty price. The police action intensified after the initial arrest of three key members, leading to further disclosures and the identification of additional suspects.
Based on information provided by the three arrested accused, police detained two more youths for questioning. These individuals subsequently named seven other alleged gang members, who are reportedly linked to seven different universities. Police teams are now scrutinizing the background and financial trails of all accused, expanding the investigation beyond Uttar Pradesh.
Key Arrests and Seizure of Forged Documents
On Saturday, the Gomtinagar police sent three pivotal members of the syndicate to jail. They were identified as Satyendra Dwivedi (32) from Kalandar, Ayodhya; Akhilesh Kumar (44) from Bighapur in Unnao; and Saurabh Sharma (35) from Eesanagar in Lakhimpur Kheri.
During the operation, law enforcement recovered a staggering 923 forged marksheets and degrees belonging to 25 different universities. Interrogation of the accused revealed that most of these counterfeit documents were purchased by individuals seeking to secure jobs in the private sector. Some names of those who allegedly obtained employment using these fake degrees have also surfaced during the investigation.
Universities Implicated and Suspected Insider Role
The gang supplied forged academic credentials for a wide array of courses. These included professional and general degrees such as BTech (engineering), BCA, MCA, MSc, BA, and other undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
The fake documents were issued in the names of several reputed universities, including:
- Swami Vivekanand Subharti University
- North East Christian University
- Maharaja Agrasen Himalayan Garhwal University
- Kalinga University
- JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University
- Sabarmati University
Police strongly suspect an insider role in the scam, as creating authentic-looking marksheets and degrees would require access to internal university systems, official formats, or seals. DCP East, Shashank Singh, stated that surveillance teams have been engaged to track digital footprints and identify other associates within this extensive network. The probe continues as authorities work to dismantle the entire operation and bring all involved to justice.
