Kalaburagi: In a major crackdown, the Kalaburagi police have arrested the mastermind in connection with an interstate fake marks card racket

The arrested are Rajeev Singh Arora, from Delhi. The police have seized 522 fake marks cards, 122 counterfeit seals, 1,626 blank mark sheets, printers, laptops, 87 bank passbooks, and 36 mobile phones from his possession.

Addressing a press conference, Kalaburagi Police Commissioner Dr. Sharanappa S. Dhage said that the accused operated a well-organized network that provided fake marks cards from 28 universities across India in exchange for money. The racket had been active for nearly eight years, issuing counterfeit certificates for various courses, including PUC, BTech, LLB, BAMS, BEd, and PhD.

The investigation stemmed from a 2020 case registered at Station Bazaar Police Station, where a suspect named Mohammad Khan Yusuf Khan was found producing and selling fake educational certificates from a clothing store in Kalaburagi. The probe led officers to an extensive fake marks card network operating from multiple states.

Further inquiries revealed that Rajeev Singh Arora had multiple fake identity cards, including those in the names of lawyers and journalists. He used 32 different mobile phones to evade detection. The police are now investigating whether any government employees secured jobs using these forged documents.

The counterfeit certificates were linked to several universities, including Bengaluru University, Mysuru University, Karnataka State Open University, and institutions in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Gujarat. Authorities have also identified cases of fake PhD and doctorate certificates being issued.

The police have informed the University Grants Commission (UGC) and are working to identify those who availed of the fake certificates. Strict action will be taken against both suppliers and beneficiaries, officials said.

Kalaburagi CEN Police ACP Madivalappa, PI Sanjeevkumar Kumbaragere, and their team played a crucial role in tracking down the racket and executing the arrest. Further investigation is underway to unearth the full extent of the scam.