Fake certificate racket busted in Odisha

Odisha Police Monday busted a fake educational certificate racket and arrested the main accused and two students, an official said.

The racket came to light after police launched an investigation on the basis of a complaint lodged by the principal of a local college in Bargarh, about 380 km from here that some students submitted doubtful Class 10 certificates for admission.

Police arrested Sarat Kumar Rath and seized computers, a scanner and other incriminating material from his house in Bargarh where he used to produce the fake certificates, Superintendent of Police Anoop Krishna told IANS.

Two students were also arrested for procuring fake Class 10 certificates from him and submitting them to the college for admission.

Rath was involved in the crime for the past several years. He charged Rs.20,000 from students for each certificate.

He was also issuing certificates of fake degrees and postgraduate diplomas, police said.

Police have already listed about 100 names and were verifying if their certificates are fake.

"We suspect some people might have got jobs by submitting fake certificates after buying them from Rath," the police officer said.