Police in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested a 45-year-old man accused of preparing and supplying fake marksheets and certificates in the names of several universities and institutions. Police identified him as Pradeep Kumar Gangwar. He was arrested on Thursday, 22 October 2026, and sent to jail the following day.

How the case surfaced

According to PTI, the case began with a complaint from a man in Sangrur, Punjab. He alleged that he paid the accused Rs 50,000 on the promise of receiving marksheets for all three years of a BA course within six months. When he grew suspicious about the short timeline and asked for a refund, the accused allegedly stopped responding.

Baradari police then traced the accused and detained him near the railway ground behind a local hospital after a tip-off, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya. Amar Ujala reported that police used call detail records to locate him.

What police recovered

Police say they seized 27 marksheets and certificates, 11 seals, a cutter, two mobile phones and Rs 8,970 in cash. The documents included BA marksheets for different years, semester-wise marksheets and vocational course certificates. Police said the accused could not satisfactorily explain some of the vocational certificates found with him.

Amar Ujala reported that the accused ran an education centre and that police are trying to trace an alleged associate in Noida who is said to have helped make the documents. That report also said the accused told police he had supplied documents to a large number of people; police have not published a verified figure.

A case has been registered at Baradari police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions on cheating and forgery. Police say they are checking the authenticity of the seized documents, the money trail and whether others were involved. The accused has not been convicted of any offence.

Checking a marksheet before relying on it

Offers of backdated or quick-delivery degrees are a recurring warning sign. Students should be wary of any centre that promises a full degree in months. Employers and admissions offices can confirm a marksheet with the issuing university's examination or registrar office, use official digital records such as DigiLocker or the National Academic Depository where available, and check that the university appears on the UGC's list of recognised institutions.

Sources

This News Desk report summarises information published by the sources above, written in our own words. Persons named in criminal matters are accused, not convicted, unless a court has ruled otherwise. To report an error, use our contact page.

Uttar PradeshBareillyFake marksheetsForgeryPolice action

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