Certificates allegedly sold for Rs 25–35k for class 10–12, Rs 55k–1.35L for UG
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The Crime Branch (CB) sleuths arrested five persons on charges of allegedly operating a fake marksheet and certificate racket across Goa. Prime accused Bindi Parab (34) from Cumbarjua, created and distributed fraudulent academic certificates and marksheets for various educational institutions while others -- Bhavesh Haldankar (33) from Chodan, Niraj Gawade (31) from Piligao, Vishnudas Bhomkar (42) from Carambolim and Yeshwant Kholkar (37) from Taleigao connived in the crime.
Information shared by CB SP Rahul Gupta stated that Parab confessed to producing fake certificates, including those for high school, higher secondary and graduate programs. The certificates were allegedly sold between Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 for Class 10th to 12th and Rs 55,000 to Rs 1.35 lakh for undergraduate courses. “The mode of payment was through cash and online platforms like Gpay,” he said.
Among the other four accused, the CB sleuths identified Haldankar as an agent who facilitated transactions on behalf of one Violet Khandepal linked to Grace Education. Gawade, Bhomkar and Kholkar received fake certificates.
Gupta revealed that the CB registered the case invoking sections of the BNS Act 2023, and launched an investigation to track down other accused.
