Lucknow, July 20 — The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Lucknow Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 25.44 crore in connection with a large-scale fake degree and forged academic documents racket operated through Monad University, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh.
The action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, through a Provisional Attachment order issued on Monday. The attached assets include a farmhouse, multiple flats, and vehicles registered in the names of the accused persons and their family members, a company release said.
The ED initiated the investigation based on an FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), which exposed a well-organised syndicate involved in preparing, selling, and verifying fake mark sheets, degrees, provisional certificates, migration certificates, and other academic documents in the name of Monad University.
The UP STF had filed a charge sheet on August 11, 2025, against 11 accused persons under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Investigation revealed that Vijendra Singh Hooda, Chairman of Monad University, allegedly in connivance with Sandeep Sehrawat and other associates, misused the university’s name, official machinery, and resources to issue fake documents. The fake mark sheets and degrees were sold to students for monetary gains.
So far, records of more than 1,800 students who received such forged documents have been traced. The accused reportedly generated Proceeds of Crime (PoC) amounting to approximately Rs 37.66 crore. A significant portion of this money was received in cash and later laundered through multiple bank accounts and layered transactions.
During the probe, the ED conducted searches under section 17 of PMLA at various premises and seized incriminating materials, including fake mark sheets, degrees, and verification applications.
The case highlights the systematic misuse of an educational institution for large-scale fraud, affecting the credibility of academic qualifications and the future of genuine students. Further investigation is underway to trace the complete money trail and identify all beneficiaries of the racket.