In a major crackdown on educational fraud, Kanpur police have launched a special investigation team (SIT) to probe a massive fake marksheet and degree racket. The 14-member squad, headed by ADCP Yogesh Kumar, will dive deep into the scandal centered around Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU).
The case exploded into the open following a raid on Shail Group of Education, a coaching center in Kidwai Nagar. Authorities arrested four key suspects and seized over 900 forged documents, including marksheets, degrees, and migration certificates. Shockingly, 357 of these fakes bore the CSJMU seal, pointing to serious internal lapses.
Investigators uncovered a counterfeit stamp mimicking the university’s deputy registrar, alongside evidence of a sprawling network operating across nine states. The gang charged steep fees: Rs 50,000 for high school and intermediate certificates, Rs 50,000-75,000 for graduation degrees, and up to Rs 2.5 lakh for professional qualifications like BTech, LLB, and pharmacy.
Collusion with university insiders allegedly allowed the fraudsters to manipulate online records, making bogus credentials pass verification checks. Police raids also netted post-dated cheques and clues to assets worth crores. Several lawyers are under scrutiny for using fake LLB degrees.
Just a day prior, CSJMU’s registrar and exam controller denied any involvement or police contact. Yet, the seized forgeries, complete with official stamps, fuel suspicions of complicity. The SIT is set to storm the campus, grilling staff and scrutinizing records to expose the full extent of the conspiracy.
With more gang members still at large, Kanpur police vow relentless pursuit. This probe could unravel a web of corruption shaking the foundations of higher education in Uttar Pradesh.