Fake degree certificate scandal busted in university

Ballari

The investigation into the case of fake degree certificates allegedly issued to students by two outsourced staff members of Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University (VSKU) has intensified, and the verification of more than 15,000 certificates is under way.

It was confirmed that a staff member had more than Rs 20 lakh transferred to his account. It was found that more than 1,000 certificates were fake on the surface, and there is a suspicion of fraud amounting to Rs 1 crore in the case.

Two weeks ago, it came to light that a staff member who forged the signatures of key officials, including the vice-chancellor of VSKU, issued convocation certificates to students. As soon as the matter came to light, a 9-member investigation team, including the finance officer and the administrative registrar, was formed on February 2022.

The investigation team has conducted a verification of the convocation certificates distributed since 2021-22. The bank account of the accused was also checked, and it was found that Rs 20 lakh in cash and Rs 10 to 12 lakh in the name of family members were transferred to his account. Details regarding the money source are being verified now, and a report has been submitted to the Chief Minister's office and the higher education minister regarding the incident, university sources said.

The case came to light by chance. A contract employee of the university received money from a student and issued a convocation certificate using forged signatures.

BOX

After receiving the convocation certificate, no receipt for the payment of fees was given. The case came to light when a student of a first-grade college in Kanakagiri, Koppal district, who became suspicious, inquired about this at the university.