FEOA invoked in Manav Bharti fake degree case, two accused declared absconders
Shimla, Jan 5,
In a breakthrough in the multi-crore fake degree racket that rocked Himachal Pradesh’s private university system, the Special Court (PMLA), Shimla, has declared Ashoni Kanwar and her son Mandeep Rana as Fugitive Economic Offenders, intensifying legal action in the Manav Bharti University scam.
The declaration was made under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), 2018, on January 3, 2026, following an application filed by the Enforcement Directorate, Shimla Sub-Zonal Office.
According to the Enforcement Directorate, the money laundering investigation stemmed from three FIRs registered at Dharampur Police Station in Solan district under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The probe revealed that Raj Kumar Rana, the prime accused, allegedly ran a large-scale fake degree operation with the active involvement of his wife Ashoni Kanwar and son Mandeep Rana.
Investigators found that fake academic degrees were sold to agents and students for hefty sums and were fraudulently issued in the name of Manav Bharti University. The ED has quantified the proceeds of crime at approximately ₹387 crore, generated through the illegal sale of these degrees.
The agency further stated that the illicit proceeds were laundered through the acquisition of movable and immovable assets spread across multiple states, held both in the names of the accused and their associated entities. So far, assets worth nearly ₹200 crore have been provisionally attached in the case, with the attachments confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate had filed a prosecution complaint before the Special Court (PMLA), Shimla, against 14 individuals and two entities under the PMLA, 2002, including Raj Kumar Rana, Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana. The court took cognisance of the complaint on January 4, 2023, and issued summons to Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana.
However, the accused failed to comply with the summons, prompting the court to issue open-ended non-bailable warrants against them on November 4, 2023.
The investigation also revealed that Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana had left India after the registration of FIRs related to the university scam and are currently residing in Australia. Despite repeated efforts by investigating agencies to secure their presence for trial, both accused allegedly refused to return to India or cooperate with the probe.
In view of their continued evasion of the legal process, the ED moved an application under Section 4 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, seeking their declaration as fugitive economic offenders. The Special Court allowed the plea and formally declared both accused as FEOs.
The Enforcement Directorate has stated that further investigation into the money trail and associated beneficiaries is still underway.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
