The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into a widespread medical fake degree and marksheet racket tied to Monad University in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, announcing simultaneous raids at least 15-16 locations across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana.
According to official sources, the probe now includes Saraswati Medical College in Unnao, with ED teams searching administrative buildings, computers and financial documents at the campus.
Scope of the operation
In early November 2025, the ED’s Lucknow zonal office executed coordinated raids under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at 15-16 sites implicated in the scam. These sites span Hapur (Monad University’s campus), Unnao (Saraswati Medical College), Ghaziabad, Noida, Delhi and parts of Haryana.
Officials reveal that the original detection of the racket dates to 2023 when the Special Task Force (Uttar Pradesh Police) (STF) uncovered a large network within Monad University distributing fake degrees and marksheets.
The ED’s current activity is described as a financial-trail hunt. Investigators are examining if proceeds from this illicit trade were laundered via shell companies or educational intermediaries.
Entry of the medical college into the probe
The recent twist in the investigation is the alleged involvement of Saraswati Medical College in Unnao. ED sources say documents and academic records from the medical college may have been processed through the fake network that originated in Monad University.
Further, the principal of the medical college, Dr Akhilesh Maurya, is reportedly being questioned for his potential connections with those running the fake degree network. Searches were conducted at his residence in Lucknow.
The probe is now assessing whether students or staff of the Unnao college benefited from, or facilitated, the fraudulent certification process. According to sources, fake degrees and mark sheets were issued in exchange for cash and then used to claim academic or professional credentials elsewhere.
Background: how the racket operated
The 2023 STF investigation revealed that students who either failed or never enrolled were paying between ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh or more to acquire forged degrees and marksheets.
The forged credentials covered a wide range of courses, including BTech, LLB, MBA and others. Many such documents were not even listed in official university databases.
Earlier actions saw the STF arrest 10 individuals including Monad University chairman Vijendra Singh Hooda and other staff, following the seizure of over 1,000 fake documents.
What the ED seeks to uncover
The current ED probe is aimed at several key questions:
- Were the fake degrees used to obtain jobs, admissions or professional privileges?
- Did the proceeds flow into shell firms or property investments?
- Are other institutions beyond the two now under scrutiny also involved?
ED officials confirm that while no new arrests have been made yet, interrogations of various individuals are in progress. More institutions may be brought into the net as the financial trail expands.
Implications for students and the education sector
For students of the implicated institutions, the ongoing probe raises serious concerns about the validity of their credentials. Those who relied on questionable qualifications may face legal or professional jeopardy if documents are declared invalid.
Moreover, the case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in the higher education and certification ecosystem in India. The involvement of a medical college amplifies the concern, as validity of medical qualifications directly affects public safety and professional standards.
What happens next
The ED will continue their document and data analysis, tracing bank accounts, transfers and property holdings linked to the suspects. Meanwhile, the possibility of freezing assets or filing charges under PMLA is being considered.
Educational regulatory bodies may also step in to audit the accreditation, enrollment, and certificate-issuance procedures at the institutions involved. Students are advised to maintain their academic records and stay updated on official communications.