ISLAMABAD: Kerala Police have dismantled a major interstate racketproducing and distributing fake university degrees, seizing over 100,000counterfeit certificates linked to 22 universities across India. Thisoperation, centred in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has exposed a sophisticatednetwork that allegedly supplied forged credentials to more than one millionindividuals nationwide. The discovery involves forged seals, holograms, andsignatures, with certificates sold for substantial sums to aspirantsseeking employment, including abroad.
Authorities arrested 11 suspects, including the kingpin Dhaneesh, a repeatoffender previously jailed for similar crimes in 2013. Raids in Pollachi,Sivakasi, and other locations yielded hundreds of printers, computers, andimitation university stamps. The racket routed fake documents throughBengaluru to evade detection before distribution to agents in multiplestates, including Maharashtra, Delhi, and West Bengal.
Investigators estimate the network generated crores in illicit profits,with each fake degree priced between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh. Manycertificates targeted fields like medicine, nursing, and engineering, oftenused for overseas opportunities. Police are verifying seized documents withrespective universities and probing potential insider involvement thatprovided authentic templates.
The bust highlights growing concerns over credential fraud in India, wherecounterfeit degrees undermine educational integrity. Experts note suchrackets exploit demand for quick qualifications among job seekers facingintense competition. This incident follows previous scandals, underscoringthe need for stricter oversight of private printing presses and documentverification processes.
Particularly alarming are implications for Indian professionals in theUnited States holding H-1B visas. Many forged degrees reportedlyfacilitated migration for tech and skilled roles, where Indians compriseover 70 percent of recipients. Former US consular officials have allegedwidespread fraud in past applications, including fake educational documentsfrom southern India.
Estimates suggest up to one million fake degrees from various rackets mayhave been used to secure US jobs via H-1B visas. This could triggerenhanced vetting by American authorities, potentially affecting thousandsof visa holders. Employers and immigration services might initiate reviews,leading to status revocations or deportations for those with invalidqualifications.
The scandal coincides with ongoing US debates on H-1B programme integrityamid claims of industrial-scale fraud. Indian nationals dominate the visacategory, raising questions about skill authenticity. Enhanced scrutinycould disrupt livelihoods for many legitimate professionals while targetingfraudulent entries.
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Police continue expanding the investigation, forwarding certificates forauthentication and tracing client networks. Universities implicated arecooperating to identify affected credentials. This case serves as a starkreminder of vulnerabilities in global mobility reliant on verifiablequalifications.
Broader reforms may include digital degree verification systems andinternational cooperation on credential checks. For now, the Keralaoperation has dealt a significant blow to one of India’s largest known fakedegree syndicates.
Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/three-from-sivakasi-held-by-kerala-police-for-printing-fake-degree-certificates-taken-for-further-probe/article70369469.ece
Tags: Kerala, India, H-1B Visa, Fake Degrees
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