New Delhi, Jan 5 (NationPress) A Special Court (PMLA) in Shimla has officially designated a man from the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh and his mother as Fugitive Economic Offenders due to their involvement in a staggering Rs 387 crore scam regarding fake degrees from Manav Bharti University, following their flight to Australia, as confirmed by an official on Monday.

Mandeep Rana and his mother, Ashoni Kanwar, were classified as Fugitive Economic Offenders by the Special Court on Saturday, after the ED (Enforcement Directorate) submitted their application, according to a statement from the Shimla Sub Zonal Office.

The duo is purportedly connected to a money laundering scheme linked to the fake degree scandal orchestrated by Mandeep Rana’s father, Raj Kumar Rana. They were declared fugitives under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) 2018, an official stated.

The investigation by the ED was triggered by three FIRs filed at the Dharampur Police Station in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, under various sections of the IPC of 1860.

Evidence from the ED's investigation indicates that Raj Kumar Rana, assisted by his co-accused, including his wife Ashoni Kanwar and son Mandeep Rana, sold fake degrees in exchange for money from agents and students.

These fraudulent degrees were marketed under the name of Manav Bharti University in Solan, with the Proceeds of Crime generated from the sale of these fake degrees estimated at Rs 387 crore, the statement revealed.

Funds acquired from this illicit operation were utilized by Raj Kumar Rana, Ashoni Kanwar, and Mandeep Rana to procure various movable and immovable assets across different states in their names and in the names of related entities, as per the ED.

The federal investigation agency has, to date, attached assets worth Rs 200 crore in connection with this case, with these attachments receiving confirmation from the Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA.

Previously, the ED had filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) before the Special Court (PMLA) in Shimla against 14 individuals and two entities, which included Raj Kumar Rana, Ashoni Kanwar, and Mandeep Rana under the PMLA, 2002.

The Special Court (PMLA) acknowledged the chargesheet on January 4, 2023, and issued summons to Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana, which they did not comply with. Subsequently, open-ended non-bailable warrants (NBW) were issued against both on November 4, 2023.

During the ongoing investigation, it was uncovered that Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana had absconded from the country following the FIR registrations against Manav Bharti University and are currently residing in Australia, the statement disclosed.

Both individuals were summoned to participate in the investigation but failed to do so. Despite extensive efforts to repatriate both accused to India to face trial, they declined to return to face criminal charges, it added.

Consequently, an application under the FEOA, 2018 was submitted by the ED, Shimla Sub Zonal Office, in accordance with Section 4 of the FEOA, 2018, seeking to label Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana as Fugitive Economic Offenders. This request was granted by the Special Court (PMLA) in its order dated January 3.