Man exposes markscard racket, edu academy owner in custody

Man exposes markscard racket, edu academy owner in custody

Chaithanya.Swamy@timesofindia.com

Bengaluru : A 46-year-old real estate dealer has exposed a fake markscard racket run by a distance education academy in Ramarao Layout of Katriguppe, Banashankari II Stage in south Bengaluru. Following his complaint, Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths have arrested Monish, 28, who runs the academy and are probing. Mirza Inamul Huq, a resident of Palace Guttahalli, approached CCB police recently, informing them about the racket run by Mercury Academy, Distance Education Centre. Huq’s nephew, Mirza Nameath Ul Huq, 28, who studied until class 10, wanted to continue his studies in correspondence (distance) education. They called the mobile number 9739770484 mentioned in the academy’s portal. Monish picked the call and introduced himself as the head of the academy. Monish claimed that they were affiliated with many reputed universities and suggested Huq visit the academy to know more.

Accordingly, Huq took his nephew to the academy on Oct 20 for PUC admission . Monish allegedly told Huq not to worry about the exam as they have links with the officials in the education board and universities. He would manage to get the markscard without exam in a month or two if they were ready to pay Rs 2 lakh. Certificate for Rs 2 lakh Huq asked him to get admission for Nameath, if not they didn’t want any kind of business with him and walked out. Monish called him the next morning and explained how their connections were with the universities and suggested he not waste his nephew's two years in making him appear for the exam. He also sent a few markscards as evidence to convince them that they were genuine and provided a link to Karnataka State Council of Intermediate And Higher Education ‘www.karnatakastatecouncil.in’ to check them by entering the enrolment number and serial number of the sample markscard sent to him.

He said the officials and universities would issue the markscard with a previous year's date and managed to convince Huq to share details of his nephew, including a photo and SSLC markscard. Huq made an online payment of Rs 10,000 to 9739770484 through a digital payment application on the same day as a registration fee. Monish claimed to have registered Nameath’s name and, citing course fee and bribe, collected Rs 1 lakh more from Huq. On Monday, Monish asked Huq to collect his nephew’s PUC markscard from the academy by paying the remaining amount.

Huq’s plan was to expose the racket with evidence. After learning that the markscard was ready, he approached CCB police and filed a complaint. As per the instructions, he went to the academy to collect the markscard, and the CCB sleuths in plainclothes caught Monish red-handed. Police seized many documents, including markscards and other students’ details from the academy, along with electronic devices such as laptop. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 318 (cheating), 336 (forgery), and 340 (forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine).