The Kerala Police have uncovered a massive fake degree racket operating across multiple states, exposing a highly organised network involved in producing and selling forged academic certificates across India. During the investigation, officials seized more than one lakh counterfeit certificates linked to 22 universities. Investigators believe the syndicate may have circulated over 10 lakh fake degrees over the years. So far, eleven people have been arrested in connection with the case.
According to the police, the racket specialised in forging medical, nursing, engineering, and postgraduate degrees. These fake certificates were allegedly sold for amounts ranging from ₹75,000 to ₹1.5 lakh. Authorities suspect that many buyers used the forged qualifications to secure jobs, gain admission into educational institutions, and obtain visas for foreign countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, several European nations, and the UAE.
The investigation reportedly began after police tracked suspicious courier shipments moving from Malappuram to Bengaluru and later to Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. Subsequent raids led to the recovery of fake mark sheets, counterfeit university seals, computers, printers, and other equipment believed to have been used in manufacturing the forged certificates.
Police officials said the network had operatives spread across several states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Delhi, and West Bengal. The case has raised serious concerns over the verification of educational documents, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare and engineering, where fake qualifications could pose major risks to public safety.
The Kerala Police said the investigation is still underway and efforts are continuing to identify and arrest others linked to the racket. Authorities are also examining how extensively the forged certificates were used across India and abroad.
