COCHIN, Dec 10: Kerala Police have dismantled a large-scale, pan-India racket involved in the manufacturing and distribution of forged university degree certificates, including fake foreign qualifications, exposing one of the most extensive education fraud networks uncovered in recent years. Officials announced the breakthrough on December 10, 2025, stating that the operation spanned multiple states and allegedly supplied counterfeit academic credentials to more than one million people across the country.

According to investigators, the racket was headed by Dhaneesh, also known as “Dany,” who had earlier been arrested in 2013 for similar offences. After serving a prison sentence, he allegedly revived the illegal operation, this time operating from a rented residence in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. Police said the accused expanded the network by collaborating with experienced printing-press workers from Sivakasi and appointing agents in several states to handle distribution and client coordination.

Certificates and seals sized

In a series of coordinated raids conducted across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, police arrested 11 suspects linked to different stages of the operation, including printing, transportation and distribution of the forged certificates. Those arrested include Irshad, Rahul, Nissar, Jaseem, Shafeeq, Ratheesh and Afsal from Kerala, along with Jainulabideen, Aravind and Venkatesh from Tamil Nadu. Investigators said the accused played specific roles within the network, ensuring the smooth production and movement of fake credentials.

During searches at multiple locations, authorities seized hundreds of printers and computers, along with forged university seals, stamps and other equipment used to replicate authentic documents. Nearly 100,000 fake degree certificates linked to around 22 universities were recovered. Police said the certificates were designed to closely resemble genuine documents, complete with authentic-looking logos, holograms and forged signatures.

Investigations revealed that the forged certificates were first produced in Tamil Nadu, then routed through a central distribution hub in Bengaluru before being circulated by agents across several states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Delhi and West Bengal. This distribution model enabled the wide-scale misuse of fake qualifications for employment and other purposes.

Police further disclosed that the proceeds of the scam were used by the main accused to fund an affluent lifestyle, including investments in real estate, businesses and other assets. The alleged ringleader was arrested in Kozhikode while attempting to flee the country with his family, officials said.

Authorities have begun forwarding the seized certificates to the concerned universities for verification and are probing whether any insiders or officials may have assisted the racket by providing sensitive information or templates. Further investigations are also underway to identify individuals who used these forged certificates to secure jobs, raising concerns over the integrity of recruitment processes in both the public and private sectors.