Chandrapur: A racket involved in manufacturing and selling fake degrees, marksheets, diplomas and migration certificates allegedly in the name of reputed universities for ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh has been busted in Chandrapur. Investigators are checking whether the forged documents were used to secure employment, college admissions or promotions.Durgapur police registered a case on Monday night against Parimal Baburao Gaurkar (32), and Vaibhav Bholaram Sonule (32), both residents of Tukum locality, under various sections relating to cheating and forgery. While Sonule has been arrested and remanded in police custody till August 28, Gaurkar is absconding, police sources said.The racket came to light after suspicious academic documents were found in a cloth bag in the house of Gaurkar’s neighbour at Chintamani Apartment, Tukum. As per the police complaint, Gaurkar allegedly asked neighbour Vaibhav Mashirkar to keep the bag at his residence in January. He used to come and collect a few documents now and then. As he failed to turn up for a long period of time, Mashirkar opened the bag and approached police with forged documents. Mashirkar told police that Gaurkar claimed before him that he can arrange fake certificates of top universities for Rs5 lakh to Rs10 lakh.Police said the bag contained marksheets, diplomas and migration certificates purportedly issued in the name of Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Solapur University, Shridhar University, Pilani University, Gondwana University and Chhatrapati ShahuJi Maharaj University, Kanpur. The documents allegedly carried forged seals and signatures.Investigators are verifying the authenticity and origin of the certificates, financial transactions and possible involvement of other members of the network. Police sub-inspector Ravindra Nakkanwar, under PI Santosh Shegaonkar, is conducting the investigation.
