Bengaluru: Fraudsters have long been issuing fake markscards in the names of well-known schools and universities, tricking unsuspecting victims. But a crafty trio decided to up the con game: They created a fake education board to churn out bogus markscards.
What is more baffling is the fact that several of the victims or beneficiaries have succeeded in bagging jobs, both in the govt and private companies, by producing these fake certificates. Preliminary investigation by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths revealed that the racketeers had issued fake markscards of SSLC and PUC to more than 350 people.
The team, headed by police inspector Kavitha GM, managed to nab three persons— Prashanth Gundumi, 41, a resident of Dharwad; his associate Rajashekar H Ballari, 41, from Gadag; and Monish KJ, 36, from Banashankari IIIrd Stage. Monish was arrested in Dec last year. Based on the information provided by him, the team arrested the other two from Dharwad and Gadag recently.
The accused created a fake board named ‘Karnataka State Council of Intermediate and Higher Education‘ to lure potential markscard seekers. The fraud came to light after realtor Mirza Inamul Huq from Palace Guttahalli approached Monish, who was running a distance education centre named Mercury Academy, for admission of his 28-year-old nephew to PUC. Monish suggested he make the payment and avail of a markscard without appearing for the exam. Accordingly, he gave him a fake markscard for Rs 10,000. Huq filed a complaint with CCB police and submitted the fake certificate as proof.
Police commissioner B Dayananda said the markscards were found to be used to secure positions in the transport and women and child welfare departments. Probe is on to identify those who secured jobs. The accused floated several institutes on paper to ensure those who have obtained markscards from them do not come under scanner during verification. All queries would get routed to the fake board and the accused would give a green signal during verification.
Police found over 300 markscards on their mobile phones. They were printed by Prashanth in Dharwad, and Rajashekar assisted him. Prashanth would send them to Monish and other academies involved in the racket. They charged Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 for providing each document. Prashanth is an MBA graduate; he earlier worked in a bank and quit the job. Rajashekar is a BA graduate.
