Fake Degree Row: Himachal's University sold over 45,000 degrees; says investigation agency

During the investigation, it was found that the fake degrees were sold outside the state through agents for Rs 1-3 lakh in cash deals in the majority of the cases.

Manav Bharti University (MBU) is in the limelight after a number of fake degrees allegedly sold by the varsity crossed the 45,000 mark. As per the investigation agencies, over 45,000 fake degrees and digital evidences have been found, and around 5,000 are still under verification. 
The special investigation team (SIT) of the CID had revealed that it has recovered 55 hard disks that are being scanned. While speaking about the same, the official sources told The Tribune that the investigation has now reached its conclusive stage and the number of fake degrees could mount further as the process of scanning the retrieved data is still underway.

During the investigation, it was found that the fake degrees were sold outside the state through agents for Rs 1-3 lakh in cash deals in the majority of the cases. Properties worth Rs 194.74 crore out of Rs 440 crore were found to be linked to the crime proceeds were attached.

Raj Kumar Rana, chairman, Manav Bharti Charitable Trust, has been named as the main accused. The extradition process to bring back his wife, son and daughter from Australia is in progress. Various teams are looking into financial transactions, land deals, digital evidence and interstate links as well as the identification of fake degrees. A case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against university officials on March 3, 2020. In January 2021, as many as 36,000 fake degrees were detected. 

In 2019, the higher education regulator, University Grants Commission (UGC) had pointed out that two private universities allegedly sold about 5 lakh degrees and asked the authorities concerned to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations against Alakh Prakash Goyal (APG) University (Shimla) and Manav Bharti University (Solan).

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