Bengaluru: Busted! Academy of fake degrees

Bengaluru: An MBA graduate and a business development officer, along with his aide, was arrested by the South-east division police for issuing fake educational certificates.

They were running an academy in Koramangala, which issued fake marks cards and educational certificates to help unemployed youth get jobs.

According to police, Arjun (30), from Rangapally district in Andhra Pradesh came to Bengaluru around five years ago after completing his post-graduation. He joined a private firm in Koramangala as business development officer.

However to make easy money, he opened Good Guide Academy near Jyothi Nivas College in Koramangala and employed on Harish (28), hailing from Bihar.

They started searching for their prospective customers from Naukri.com and other job sites, the police said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that they targeted those who had completed PU. They would scan their bio-datas and contact them and offer them mark cards and degree certificates without joining any institution or appearing for any examination.

The duo then would then give them fake certificates, in order to help them get jobs.

Arjun used to charge Rs 40,000-50,000 per certificate, a senior police officer said.

The police said Arjun has been running the academy for three years and issued at least 300 educational certificates and had earned Rs 1.2 crore, the police said. Many of his customers have even secured jobs in the city with these certificates, the police added.

The police have seized around 150 mark cards with names of educational institutions such as Periyar University, Chhattisgarh University and Geetham University printed on them with their logos.

The police have also seized 50 degree certificates and answer sheets belonging to Mangalore University.