More arrests likely in HPU ‘fake degree racket’

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 13

Even as the police have nabbed four accused in connection with the fake degree racket allegedly issued by Himachal Pradesh University for the bachelor degree course, the “police are yet to establish whether the degrees were fake or genuine”.

The Shimla city police had nabbed four accused last week in connection with the racket, but the police are yet to establish the veracity of the degrees.

The four accused have been identified as Jagdev, Sunil, Saurabh, and Rakesh, and have been booked under Section 420, 120 B and 467 of the IPC by a team led by Sandeep Chaudhary, SHO, Shimla Sadar. They have been remanded in police custody for five days, police officials said.

The investigation is on to examine the veracity of the “signed degree issued by HP University”, whether the degrees were fake or genuine’.

“We expect more arrests in the case and once the investigation is complete we will send the seized degree certificates for forensic examination at the state forensic science laboratory, Junga, to ascertain its veracity”, said Pramod Shukla, DSP, city.

According to the police, they got a tip off from a complainant that he was being offered the bachelor degree for Rs 20,000 by two agents. The police laid the trap and caught the accused red-handed along with the two degree certificate, said the police.

Shukla said the police interrogation of the accused was on and suspected that more persons were involved in the case. “No involvement of some employee of the HP university has come to light during the investigation”, he said.

HPU Vice-Chancellor Prof Sikender Kumar said if the involvement of any university’s employee was found, they would take action. “We are in touch with the police”, he added.