In a sweeping crackdown on academic fraud, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has dismantled a sprawling fake degree racket operating across Delhi-NCR and beyond. Five individuals have been arrested in connection to the operation, which churned out over 2,000 forged documents spanning multiple universities and fields of study. The scale and sophistication of the syndicate underline a disturbing erosion of trust within India’s education system.
The Discovery: How It Began
The investigation kicked off following a tip-off about suspicious consultancy centres and coaching institutes offering “backdated” degrees without coursework. A coordinated effort by the inter-state cell of the Crime Branch led to raids on multiple locations, targeting a syndicate that had operated stealthily across states.
The Arrests and the Syndicate’s Leadership
The kingpin, identified as Vicky Harjani, who ran an outfit named Paramhans Vidyapeeth at Netaji Subhash Place, was the first to be apprehended. A Class X dropout, Harjani reportedly amassed forged documents from universities in UP, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Tamil Nadu. Upon his arrest, police seized 75 forged certificates in his possession.
Interrogation led to the arrests of four others—Vivek Gupta, Satbir Singh, Narayan Jee, and Avnish Kansal—each running parallel centres across Noida, Faridabad, Bihar, and Rajasthan. Several of them have prior records in similar scams.
Enormous Recovery: Documents & Digital Evidence
During searches, investigators seized:
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228 forged mark sheets,
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27 fake degree certificates,
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20 counterfeit migration documents,
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Six laptops and twenty mobile phones that contained 5,000–5,500 soft copies of fake academic records, including degrees in BA, BSc, BCom, BTech, BEd, MBA, and MA.
The syndicate reportedly used over 2,500 forged documents, with many customers already employed in reputed firms in India and abroad.
Modus Operandi: How the Network Operated
The gang operated through a network of over 20–25 coaching centres and education consultancies. They used social media marketing, printed leaflets, and telecalling to lure students and job aspirants seeking academic credentials quickly. Calls often promised degrees without the need for study or exams and assured delivery within days.
Upon receiving academic details and payment, the gang used preloaded templates and design labs to produce fake documents closely resembling real ones—including holograms and official seals. Many files were digitally transferred, and final certificates were dispatched via courier.
Prices ranged widely—from around ₹20,000 for local junior college degrees to as high as ₹2.2 lakh for degrees from foreign or prestigious institutions.
Who Were Behind the Scam?
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Vicky Harjani: The prime accused, class‑X educated, owned the main office and orchestrated operations from NSP and Rohini.
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Vivek Gupta: Class‑12 pass, ran 6–7 centres in Noida; had previous cases in Himachal Pradesh.
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Satbir Singh: Class‑12, operated Gurukul Education Centre in Faridabad.
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Narayan Jee: BA graduate, active in Bihar with recent expansion to Delhi-NCR.
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Avnish Kansal: BTech graduate, already jailed in Jaipur for related frauds.
Authorities suspect possible collusion with university insiders who may have supplied document templates or internal formats. Investigations are ongoing to map the full nexus.
Victims and Impact
The syndicate primarily targeted students who had dropped out, failed courses, or were desperate to secure jobs or higher education. Many victims were employed or seeking jobs and needed certificates urgently during recruitment drives.
The scale suggests that fraudulent degrees may have already been used in government recruiting, visa applications, or employment abroad—raising serious concerns about credential authenticity and institutional accountability.
Why It Matters: Concerns for Society
This scandal highlights multiple systemic failures:
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Verification gaps: Lack of centralized digital systems allowed forged credentials to circulate and be accepted.
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Educational inflation: The high demand for degrees created an easy market for shortcuts.
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Weak institutional oversight: Poor regulation of coaching centres and consultancies enabled misuse.
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Public trust erosion: Such frauds weaken faith in educational institutions and legal accountability.
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Potential risk in regulated professions: Fake degrees in fields like nursing, engineering, or teaching can threaten public safety.
Demands and Way Forward
In light of the racket, experts and civil society are advocating immediate reforms:
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National academic verification database enabling employers and universities to cross-check degrees rapidly.
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Mandatory biometric verification during degree issuance to reduce impersonation.
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Periodic audits of private educational consultancies and coaching institutions.
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Stringent enforcement: Rapid investigation and prosecution of fake degree users and providers.
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Public awareness campaigns to educate students on credential fraud and safe pathways.
Conclusion
The bust of the Delhi fake degree racket is not just another police triumph—it is a wake-up call. It reveals how academic shortcuts and systemic loopholes can be exploited to subvert meritocracy and falsify qualifications on a massive scale. With thousands of forged documents allegedly distributed and countless lives potentially affected, urgent reforms are needed to root out educational crime and restore institutional trust.
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