Manav Bharti University Fake Degrees Scam : State Police seek Income Tax Department assistance to probe  money trail 

Shimla, Sept 1, 2020

Himachal Pradesh Policeis now seeking the assistance of Income Tax department to probe into the money trail at Manav Bharati University (MBU) Solan fake degrees scam. An FIR has been lodged and aprobe by SIU is bein done against the institutions. 

This was stated by Superintendent of Police PRO Khushal Sharma in a press statement issued here today .

He said that Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh Sanjay Kundu has taken up the matter with Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, Shimla to ascertain his money trail, sources of income and to account the property generated by the accused.

He said that during the investigation, it has been revealed that huge movable and immovable property has been acquired by chairman of MBU trust Raj Kumar Rana in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and other places, with the funds generated through sale of fake degrees. Family of accused Rana – his wife, son and daughter are currently located in Australia.

Apart from the fake degrees, it is necessary to investigate the financial aspects of the crime for which evaluation of properties and tracking of financial transactions or money trail relating to the crime, needs to be undertaken by Income Tax Department.

Rana has acquired huge movable and immovable property and set up a new University in Rajasthan.

District Police Solan is currently investigating the fake degree scam of Manav Bharti University, Laddo Sultanpur (Solan). In this regard, three criminal cases i.e. FIR (No.22/20, 26/20 and 27/20) under sections 420, 467, 468 & 120-B of IPC stand registered in Police Station Dharampur, District Solan. 

These cases are being investigated by a Special Investigation Team of HP Police. During the course of investigation, a large number of fake degrees have been found issued by Manav Bharti University to candidates in lieu of money, since its inception till date.

Manav Bharti University owned by Manav Bharti Charitable Trust was established under the Manav Bharti University (Establishment and Regulation) Act 2009. The Chairman of Manav Bharti Charitable Trust is Raj Kumar Rana and trustees are his wife Ashoni Kanwar and daughter Miss Aina Rana.

It is pertinent to mention here that Madhav University, Rajasthan was also established in the year 2013 under the aegis of the same trust.