A serious case of fake degree fraud has come to light at Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University in Patan. The issue involves a student and the operator of a college in Baroda that is not affiliated with the university. The college, named Panchjanya Institute of Commerce and Management Studies, allegedly issued a fake degree and transcript to the student.
The student, Neeriya Akbarali Virani, is a resident of Navsari. She obtained the fake degree from Tejas Majmudar, an operator at the Panchjanya Institute. Even after realising the degree was fake, she attempted to use it for her World Education Services (WES) application to study abroad.
On June 13, 2025, Virani visited the university’s help centre with the documents needed for her WES application. When the certificates from Panchjanya Institute were checked by the examination controller, it was discovered that the college is not affiliated with Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University.
Further investigation revealed that Virani’s B.B.A. and M.B.A. mark sheets, degree certificates, and transcripts were all fraudulent. An alarming detail was that the transcript bore the signature of Dr. D.M. Patel, the former and deceased registrar of Patan University. Dr. Patel passed away in 2022, while the transcript was dated for 2024. This clearly indicated that the documents were fake.
During questioning, Virani admitted to acquiring the online degree from Panchjanya Institute and receiving the degree certificate from Tejas Majmudar. The police have registered a case against Neeriya Akbarali Virani and Tejas Majmudar under sections 336(2) and 336(3) of the Indian Penal Code and are conducting further investigations.
The university has taken this matter seriously and is cooperating with the police to ensure that justice is served. Fake degree scams are increasingly becoming a concern in India, with many students falling prey to such fraudulent activities, often in the hope of advancing their education or career abroad.
Educational institutions continue to remind students to verify the authenticity of their qualifications and to ensure that they are enrolling in recognised colleges. This incident serves as a warning to others and highlights the necessity for vigilance in the education sector to combat such frauds effectively.