WEB DESK: Authorities in Kerala have exposed a large-scale illegal operation involved in producing counterfeit university degrees and foreign certifications, revealing a nationwide criminal network.
Indian media reports indicate that the arrest of 11 suspects from multiple states has uncovered that this syndicate has allegedly issued more than one million fake diplomas and certificates across India.
The main orchestrator, Dinesh alias Denny, was first investigated by police in 2013 for selling fake academic credentials. After serving time, he revived his operation, which expanded to include agents operating in various regions.
Dinesh reportedly established a clandestine printing facility in Pollachi, where genuine-looking certificates from reputed universities were forged. These documents were then personalized with the names and details of individual candidates before being dispatched. To conceal the operation, the fake certificates were initially sent to Bangalore and then distributed across states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Delhi, and West Bengal through a network of agents.
Law enforcement officials disclosed that these counterfeit degrees featured fake signatures, hologram seals, and official university stamps. Multiple printers, computers, and imitation seals were seized from different locations, along with nearly 100,000 forged certificates bearing the names of 22 universities outside Kerala.
Further reports reveal that Dinesh maintained a lavish lifestyle, owning a luxury residence in Malpurram, two upscale bars, apartments in Pune, and investments in various Middle Eastern businesses. He was detained at Calicut Airport while attempting to escape abroad with his family.
The police stated that each fake degree was sold at prices ranging from 75,000 to 150,000 rupees, generating millions of rupees in illegal profits for Dinesh and his network.
