April 28, 2026
Shimla: A massive education scam involving fake degree certificates worth nearly ₹387 crore has been unearthed in Himachal Pradesh’s capital, Shimla. The case is linked to Manav Bharti University, where thousands of students were allegedly sold fraudulent degrees through a network of agents and middlemen.
According to officials, the proceeds of the scam were routed through complex financial transactions and invested in properties across several cities. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the money laundering angle, has so far attached assets worth approximately ₹200 crore. These include plots, commercial buildings, and other movable and immovable properties in Chandigarh, Panchkula, Zirakpur, Dera Bassi, and Rajpura.
The case originated from an FIR registered at Dharampur police station and later escalated into a money laundering investigation. Authorities revealed that large sums were collected from unsuspecting students in exchange for fake academic credentials.
The alleged racket was operated by Raj Kumar Rana, his wife Ashoni Kanwar, and their son Mandeep Rana. During the investigation, Mandeep Rana failed to appear before authorities despite repeated summons and was declared a proclaimed offender in January 2026. Subsequently, a special PMLA court approved the attachment of his properties.
Investigators also found that the accused attempted to conceal illegal earnings by routing funds through multiple bank accounts and layered transactions.
Further investigation is underway as agencies continue to trace additional assets and identify more individuals linked to the scam.
