The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Sirsa has arrested Vikas Sharma, the main accused in a multi-state fake marksheet scam that has drawn national attention. Sharma, who served as the General Secretary of the Rural Institute of Open Schooling (RIOS), Delhi, was taken into custody after detailed investigation revealed his central role in issuing forged educational documents.
The case was initiated on the complaint of Krishan Kumar, Secretary of the Haryana Board of School Education, Bhiwani. Following this, an FIR was filed at Sirsa city police station under IPC Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B—all relating to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
Two other accused—Sukhwinder Singh of Bhambur village and Sitaram Bhola of Hari Vishnu Colony, Sirsa—had already been arrested earlier. Investigations suggest they were working closely with Sharma in distributing at least 45 fake marksheets from Sirsa without approval from any competent educational authority.
ASI Abhay Ram stated that Sharma collaborated with institute operator Bhola and used forged digital signatures of Farid Ahmed Safi, a former controller of examinations who had resigned from RIOS in 2014. Additionally, several certificates falsely cited affiliation with Chhattisgarh Open School Board, Raipur, whose recognition had already been revoked in 2013.
Inspector Shyam Sunder, in charge of EOW Sirsa, confirmed the arrest and said Sharma was presented in court and remanded to judicial custody. Authorities are now expanding the investigation to trace other beneficiaries and accomplices involved in this cross-state educational fraud.
