After a major fake-degree nexus bust in Surat’s Singanpor area, the city’s authorities have uncovered yet another fraudulent operation involving counterfeit mark sheets and degree certificates, this time in the Utran area.

The police raided iTrust Overseas Consultancy, located in Utran, and Aarambh Education in Sarthana Jakatnaka, and seized fake mark sheets and degree certificates from various universities and education boards across the country, including Gujarat.

Authorities also confiscated laptops and mobiles, among other goods, worth ₹65,000 to ₹1.5 lakh.

Police inspector (PI) Ashish Mahant of Utran police spearheaded the operation, nabbing an individual named Dhruvin Kothiya from Mantralaya Chowk in Mota Varachha, suspected of fabricating fake mark sheets of Maharashtra.

Dhruvin’s arrest led to the revelation of his involvement in crafting a fake mark sheet of an individual named Sudhanva Hirapara, in association with Maulik Rathod, for a fee of ₹65,000.

The police then interrogated Sudhanva and seized a fake mark sheet of the Maharashtra State Education Board from him.

During their interrogation, Dhruvin and Maulik revealed that two persons named Nilkanth Devani and Sanjay Gelani make fake mark sheets for ₹65,000 to ₹1.3 lakh and run a firm named “iTrust Consultancy” at Green Plaza on D-Mart Road in Utran.

Canada-UK ties of fake mark sheet network

Subsequently, the police interrogated Sanjay and also raided iTrust Consultancy, where an individual named Vishal Tejani, who runs Tejani Tourism in partnership with Nilkanth Devani (presently residing in Canada), and the staff working there were found.

During Vishal’s interrogation, it was revealed that he runs this firm from a rented office in partnership with Nilkanth. The police searched the office and seized laptops, 3 mobile phones, etc., and photos of fake mark sheets were also found on the laptop.

Based on the interrogation of Dhruvin and Sanjay, the police team raided an office named Aarambh Education in the Royal Arcade located at Sarthana Jakatnaka.

During the search, fake mark sheets and degree certificates from various universities and education boards in the state were found.

When the police interrogated the office staff, it was revealed that Aarambh Education is currently run by Boni Tala, who lives in London, and at his behest, documents were sent to Vaibhav Tala, who used to make fake mark sheets and degree certificates.

International absconding accused:

Nilkanth Devani (Canada resident), Boni Tala (native Kapodra, resident London, UK), and Vaibhav Tala (resident Kapodra, native Bhavnagar)

Accused nabbed:

Dhruvin Kothiya (Age 34, resident Surat, native Amreli), Vishal Tejani (Age 36, resident Surat, native Bhavnagar), and Sanjay Gelani (Age 38, resident Surat, native Amreli)

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156 fake caste certificates busted in Gujarat; admissions, jobs terminated