The Hindu : New Delhi News : Fake caste certificates racket for getting admission to DU detected

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 27, 2011
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Fake caste certificates racket for getting admission to DU detected

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police have blown the lid off an admission racket in Delhi University, in which fake caste certificates were allegedly being used to get admissions in prestigious colleges.

Delhi Police Crime Branch have arrested three youths, including a data entry operator at a Tehsildar office in Mehrauli, for their involvement.

The gang has been operating since 2008, and is suspected to have helped more than 30 students get admission so far. A dozen students had already got admission in various colleges based on fake certificates this year and eight more cases were in process, the police said. Besides, an admission form of a female student along with a fake caste certificate was seized before it could be submitted.

The college-wise break-up of the number of students who secured admission through this racket in the current academic session is: Shri Ram College of Commerce (2), Kirori Mal College (1), Sri Venkateswara College (1), Kamla Nehru College (1), Shaheed Bhagat Singh College (4), Moti Lal Nehru College (1), College of Vocational Studies (1) and Delhi College of Arts and Commerce (1).

The admissions were sought in B.Com (H), B.Com (P), B.A. (Eco) Hons., B.Com (Prog) and Eco (Hons). These students had scored 65 per cent to 94.25 per cent in board examinations.

Acting on a tip-off that a gang was helping students get admission through fake caste certificates, the police team arrested Himanshu Gupta, 26, on Thursday. He was allegedly carrying a fake caste certificate of a female student, an admission form and a bank draft in favour of Hans Raj College. Himanshu purportedly told the police that he had come along with the girl to get her admitted in B.Com (Hons) course. The caste certificate showed the girl as belonging to the Gujjar community and residing in the Lado Sarai village. She had scored 91 per cent marks in her board exams.

Himanshu's accomplices Vikas, 24, and Ketan Gupta, 24, were arrested later at his instance.

Himanshu, the alleged mastermind, and Vikas would place advertisements in leading dailies in Delhi and other cities claiming to be running “Sai Educational Consultancy” for admission in DU colleges. The students would also approach them, knowing about their firm through word-of-mouth.

The accused would assure students and their parents of foolproof admission in the colleges of their choice and charge between Rs.3 lakh and Rs.5 lakh per seat. Of the amount, a major share was cornered by Himanshu and Vikas, while data entry operator Ketan received just Rs.10,000 to Rs.20,000 per case.

Ketan would prepare the fake caste certificates and also uploaded the data on the official website in case the college authorities cross-checked online. Ketan has issued 10 such certificates this year. The remaining three were issued from the Ghaziabad Tehsildar office, and one Satish is wanted in this connection.

Before the gang came into being, some fake certificates were being issued from Ghaziabad. Ketan joined the gang this year only.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ashok Chand said: “The role of DU employees would also be probed if the investigation into the case suggests their involvement. So far, we have not come across any such information.”

Himanshu, a resident of Malviya Nagar, did a course in Merchant Navy in 2004 and worked for a few years. Vikas, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar, has previously worked as an assistant accountant.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi