In a significant breakthrough, Hosdurg police have dismantled a large-scale fake certificate racket and arrested three prime accused allegedly behind a network of forged documentation. The arrested individuals are:
Santosh Kumar (45) of Kovalpalli – owner of the private firm at the center of the operation,
P Ravindran (51) from Moukod, Cheruvathur,
Shihab (34) from Hosdurg Beach.
The illegal operation was being run from a center named ‘Net For You’, located behind the Pudyakote bus stand in Kanhangad. Using advanced computer systems and specialized printing tools, the gang manufactured fake educational certificates, identification documents, and even official seals.
During a police raid, authorities seized:
Computers and hard drives,
Forged university degrees and SSLC certificates,
Counterfeit driving licenses and passports,
Other forgery equipment.
Additional fake documents were also recovered during follow-up searches at Shihab’s and Ravindran’s residences.
Police described the racket as a “major forgery network” with the potential to compromise education systems, employment verification, and even national security. The gang is believed to have produced fraudulent credentials for employment, immigration, and other illicit uses.
Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are likely as officials unravel the extent of the operation.
