Shimla, Jan 11/updated 1740hrs,
ED, Shimla has provisionally attached seven immovable properties worth Rs. 5.80 Crore located in Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh belonging to accused Ashoni Kanwar under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002 in the Fake Degree Scam case involving Manav Bharti University, Solan…
— ED (@dir_ed) January 10, 2025
In the ongoing investigation into the Rs 387-crore fake degree scam involving Manav Bharti University, Solan of Himachal Pradesh, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached seven immovable properties worth Rs 5.80 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The properties, located in Haryana, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh, belong to Ashwani Kanwar, the absconding wife of the scam’s main accused, Raj Kumar Rana.
This latest attachment brings the total value of properties seized in the case to approximately Rs 200 crore. The scam, which surfaced in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, revealed that Manav Bharti University was operating as a hub for issuing fake degrees across India.
Raj Kumar Rana, the founder of the university, along with his wife Ashoni Kanwar and son Mandeep Rana, allegedly built a network to sell counterfeit degrees through agents, earning a staggering Rs 387 crore.
The ED’s probe unearthed evidence showing that the proceeds from the fraudulent activities were laundered and invested in acquiring assets across various states. The investigation has also revealed multiple properties registered under the names of the accused and their relatives, bought using the earnings from the scam.
Ashoni Kanwar, a co-accused in the case, is currently evading authorities and is believed to have fled abroad. Her involvement in laundering the scam’s proceeds and acquiring assets has been a key focus of the ED’s investigation. The seven properties attached in this round of seizures are part of the wealth accumulated through the fraudulent sale of degrees.
In addition to these recent attachments, the ED has filed a chargesheet against 14 individuals, including Raj Kumar Rana, Ashoni Kanwar, and Mandeep Rana, in a special court in Shimla. The chargesheet outlines the fraudulent operations and money laundering activities carried out by the accused. The court has taken cognizance of the charges, marking a significant step forward in the case.
With properties worth nearly Rs 200 crore now under attachment, the ED continues its efforts to trace and seize additional assets linked to the scam. This includes scrutinizing bank accounts, investments, and other financial dealings of the accused.
