CHENNAI: Three persons, who were allegedly making fake education certificates for more than 13 years and giving them to labourers going abroad for work, were arrested by the police from Vyasarpadi on Friday.
The three reportedly were collecting Rs 2,000 per order and were nabbed while affixing a stamp on one of the certificates ready for delivery at a bus stop on Arignar Anna road in Vyasarpadi.
Police identified the three as Karuna alias P. Karunakaran, 43, of Washermenpet, and his associates N. Moorthy and G. Devaraj.
Karuna, the prime accused, was printing fake certificates for SSLC, HSC, polytechnic, arts & science degrees, and engineering for his clientele. Police believe that he developed his clients through personal reference. The three told the investigators that they never give the certificate for those trying for higher education or government jobs, because they were sure verification could expose them, said R. Sudhakar, deputy commissioner of police, Pulianthope.
The three were found having 300 rubber stamps in their office at Agaram, near Perambur, with the name of various educational institutions in the state. The formats were stored in their office computers, the officer said.
Moorthy and Devaraj were arrested when they were about to deliver the certificates which included provisional, convocation and consolidated marksheet, for a course at Anna University. Since they had forgotten to affix a stamp, one of them brought the stamp to the spot.
The police said Karuna was arrested by CB-CID for printing counterfeit currency in his printing press in 1999 and again along with another aide, Kanniyappan, in 2001 for supplying fabricated certificates. However, they went underground for more than a decade despite non-bailable warrants pending against them.
Regarding the present case, a senior officer said, “They had offered their service only to those who were planning to work abroad. Those who had actually failed the examinations can fetch better remuneration if they have degree and it also aimed at obtaining ECNR stamping on the passport.”
“They don’t keep track of their clientele and were unsure of how many certificates they had printed and delivered,” the police. The police said they were looking for two more aides of Karuna.
