Duo held for issuing fake educational certificates

The city police have arrested two persons for issuing fake marks cards and educational certificates to unemployed youth in and around the city.

They have seized around 150 mark cards with names of educational institutions like Periyar University in Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh University, Geetham University printed on them with their logos. They have also seized 50-degree certificates and answer sheets belonging to Mangalore University.

The arrested have been identified as Arjun (30), an MBA graduate hailing from Rangapally district in Andhra Pradesh who ran an academy in Koramangala, and Harish (28) from Bihar.

According to the police, Arjun came to Bengaluru around five years back after completing his post-graduation to join as a business development officer at a private firm in Koramangala. In a bid to make quick bucks he opened an academy ‘Good Guide Academy’ near Jyothi Nivas College in Koramangala and employed Harish.

The duo zeroed in on their prospective customers from online job portal Naukri.com. They would search for resumes of youths who had completed their PU course and contact them asking if they need mark cards and degree certificates without joining any institution or writing any examinations. They would then assure them that with these certificates they can get any desirable job.

For each marks card and certificate, Arjun would charge anything between Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000, a senior police officer said. Arjun had been running the academy for three years and had issued at least 300 educational certificates earning Rs 1.2 crore. Many of his customers have even landed jobs in the city with these certificates, the police added.