PhD Holder Masterminds Fake Degree Racket Selling BA for Rs 15K and PhD for Rs 2 Lakh in Lucknow

Lucknow Police has uncovered a major fake degree racket allegedly run by a PhD holder-turned-criminal, who sold thousands of forged educational certificates across several states. Three accused have been arrested following raids, raising concerns over the authenticity of academic qualifications held by hundreds of individuals.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Satyendra Dwivedi from Ayodhya, Akhilesh Kumar from Unnao, and Saurabh Sharma from Lakhimpur Kheri. Police said Satyendra Dwivedi is the mastermind behind the network, which allegedly earned nearly Rs 15 crore by selling fake degrees to approximately 1,500 people since 2021.

Authorities revealed that BA degrees were sold for Rs 15,000, while PhD certificates fetched up to Rs 2 lakh. The gang also offered MA, B.Tech, and MBA degrees at varying prices, customising certificates as per the client’s requirements. The operation reportedly exploited Dwivedi’s own academic background in Sociology to lend credibility to the forgery.

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During the investigation, police recovered over 900 fake degrees, 15 forged university seals, six laptops, and fake letterheads from 25 reputed universities, including Swami Vivekananda Subharti University (Meerut), Kalinga University (Chhattisgarh), and Sabarmati University (Gujarat). The extensive haul underscores the scale and sophistication of the racket.

DCP East Shashank Singh stated that authorities are now tracing individuals who obtained jobs using these fake documents. “We are preparing a database of around 1,500 people. Many secured private sector employment through these forged certificates. Strict legal action will be taken against them,” Singh warned.

The police have emphasised that the investigation is ongoing, and further arrests may be made. Officials urged employers and institutions to verify academic credentials thoroughly to prevent similar fraudulent activities in the future.

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