A man and his mother from Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district have been declared Fugitive Economic Offenders by a Special Court in Shimla. The court accepted the Enforcement Directorate’s application, stating that they have fled to Australia. The duo, Mandeep Rana and Ashoni Kanwar, are allegedly involved in a Rs 387 crore fake degree scam linked to money laundering.
The investigation revealed that the man’s father, Raj Kumar Rana, orchestrated the fake degree scam. Along with his wife and son, he sold fake degrees from Manav Bharti University in exchange for money. The illicit proceeds from this activity amount to Rs 387 crore. The family used the money to acquire assets in various states under their names and related entities.
The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth Rs 200 crore in connection with the case. The agency had previously filed a Prosecution Complaint against 14 individuals and two entities, including the accused family members, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Despite summons issued by the court, the man and his mother failed to comply and are currently residing in Australia.
Efforts to bring them back to India for trial were unsuccessful. Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate filed an application under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, which was approved by the Special Court in Shimla. The court declared the man and his mother as Fugitive Economic Offenders on January 3.
