Mau: City police have registered an FIR against the manager and principal of a private nursing and paramedical college for allegedly issuing a fake D-Pharma degree in exchange for ₹2.85 lakh. The certificate and degree provided to the complainant were later found to be fraudulent.
The action was taken following a complaint by the victim and the order of a chief judicial magistrate. The complainant has alleged that the fake degree not only caused financial loss but also exposed him to legal complications.
From Admission to Degree: Chronology of Events
According to the FIR, in 2015, the complainant met the college manager, who claimed to run a nursing and paramedical college in Bhujauti and suggested enrolling in the D-Pharma course. He was told it was a two-year programme after which he could work in any medical store or hospital in the country.
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Trusting these assurances, the complainant approached the college and was introduced to the principal. The two-year D-Pharma course fee was quoted at ₹2.10 lakh. Including admission fees and other charges, a total of ₹2.35 lakh was collected in installments. Receipts were reportedly provided for part of the amount immediately, while the remainder was promised later.
Certificates, Marksheet and Registration Misrepresentation
The complainant stated that upon completing the course in 2017, he received a marksheet and certificate in 2018. He was then advised that registration with Lucknow authorities was mandatory for the degree, with an additional fee of ₹50,000.
Trusting the college, he paid the registration fee. Later, the Pharmacy Council informed him that the D-Pharma documents submitted with his application were fraudulent.
Fake Degree Exposure and Reverse FIR
A new twist emerged when, on 31 January 2021, the complainant received notice that an FIR had been lodged against him at a Lucknow police station based on a complaint by the Uttar Pradesh Pharmacy Council, alleging irregularities in the registration attempt using the fake degree.
In the same case, 136 students who obtained D-Pharma degrees from the college were also named as accused, highlighting the wide-reaching fraudulent operations.
College Management Under Investigation
Following the complaint, the college manager and principal have been directly named as accused. Police are investigating how many students were issued fake degrees, the methods of fee collection, and the preparation of fraudulent certificates.
Serious Questions on Education System
The case raises serious concerns not just about financial fraud against an individual but also about the paramedical and pharmacy education system. Attempts to work in the healthcare sector using fake degrees are being seen as a public health risk.
Police have confirmed that after registering the FIR, a detailed investigation has begun, including examination of documents, financial transactions, and the college’s accreditation and recognition records.
