Shimla, April 24: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has secured a court-sanctioned confiscation order against two properties linked to Mandeep Rana, a declared Fugitive Economic Offender at the centre of the Rs 387-crore Manav Bharti University fake degree scam in Himachal Pradesh. The order was passed on April 23 by the Special Court (PMLA), following sustained enforcement action by the ED's Shimla Sub-Zonal Office. This marks a significant escalation in one of India's most brazen academic fraud cases.

Background of the Manav Bharti Fake Degree Racket

The ED launched its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, acting on three First Information Reports (FIRs) filed at Dharampur Police Station in Solan district under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The FIRs relate to a large-scale fraudulent degree operation involving Manav Bharti University and its associated entities.

Investigators found that Raj Kumar Rana, in criminal conspiracy with his wife Ashoni Kanwar and son Mandeep Rana, ran a highly organised network that sold fake degrees through agents and intermediaries across India. These counterfeit degrees were issued under the name of Manav Bharti University, Solan, in exchange for money, exploiting thousands of unsuspecting students.

Scale of the Fraud and Proceeds of Crime

The proceeds of crime in this case have been quantified at nearly Rs 387 crore — a figure the ED describes as alarming. The agency stated that this is a very severe financial offence where the accused played with the careers, aspirations and futures of countless young individuals, placing them at severe academic and professional risk for petty financial gains.

The laundered money was systematically routed through a complex web of transactions and subsequently invested in movable and immovable properties spread across multiple states, held in the names of the accused and their associated entities. The ED has so far attached assets worth nearly Rs 200 crore, all of which have been confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA.

Mandeep Rana Declared a Fugitive Economic Offender

Despite repeated summons from the court, Mandeep Rana willfully refused to appear before investigators or submit to the jurisdiction of Indian courts. The ED noted that he consciously chose to evade the due process of law in flagrant defiance of judicial authority.

The agency stated that despite repeated summons and exhaustive, sustained efforts to secure his presence, the accused deliberately and persistently refused to join the investigation. His conduct was described as a brazen and intentional obstruction of justice. Consequently, stringent coercive proceedings under the law were initiated, leading to his designation as a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) — a status that enables authorities to confiscate his properties without a criminal conviction.

Why This Case Matters: Impact on Students and Systemic Risk

The Manav Bharti scam is not an isolated incident — it reflects a dangerous pattern of fraudulent universities exploiting regulatory gaps in India's higher education ecosystem. Students who paid for these degrees faced devastating consequences: disqualification from government jobs, rejection by employers, and in some cases, criminal liability for submitting fraudulent credentials.

This case also highlights the misuse of deemed university status to operate with limited oversight. Notably, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has previously flagged several fake and non-compliant universities operating across India, yet enforcement has remained inconsistent. The Manav Bharti case, with its Rs 387-crore footprint, is among the largest academic fraud cases ever prosecuted under the PMLA in India.

What Happens Next

With the confiscation of two additional properties of Mandeep Rana now court-approved, the ED is expected to continue pursuing remaining assets linked to the accused network. Extradition proceedings or Interpol coordination may be the next step if Mandeep Rana is confirmed to be abroad. The total asset attachment of nearly Rs 200 crore — confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority — signals that the financial dragnet is tightening. Legal experts suggest the FEO designation could also pave the way for attachment of overseas assets, depending on bilateral treaty frameworks.