In a major crackdown, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has busted a large-scale fake degree racket being run through Monad University in Pilkhuwa, Hapur. The operation led to the arrest of 10 people, including the university’s Chairman Chaudhary Vijendra Singh Hooda and Pro-Chancellor Nitin Kumar Singh.
According to STF officials, Vijendra Singh, already under the radar for his involvement in the infamous 2019 bike boat scam, masterminded the forgery scheme. The racket involved mass production and sale of counterfeit academic degrees in disciplines like LLB, B Pharma, D Pharma, and B Tech.
During the raid, authorities seized 1,372 fake degrees, 262 forged provisional and migration certificates, several electronic devices, and Rs6.54 lakh in cash. The fake degrees were reportedly sold for Rs50,000 to Rs5 lakh, often used by buyers to obtain jobs in both the government and private sectors.
The arrested individuals include:
Chaudhary Vijendra Singh – Chairman, Monad University
Nitin Kumar Singh – Pro-Chancellor
Mukesh Thakur – Personal Assistant to the Chairman
Gaurav Sharma – Head of Verification
Imran – Director of Admissions
Anil Batra – Accountant
Vipul Talayan, Kuldeep, Sunny Kashyap, and Sandeep Kumar alias Sandeep Sehrawat – University staff
The STF acted on a written complaint regarding fake degree issuance. After days of intelligence gathering, the raid was executed in coordination with Hapur Police.