Fake degrees: Solan varsity chairman's kin declared POs

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 5

A court here today declared as proclaimed offenders the wife and daughter of Solan’s Manav Bharti University chairman and trustee Rajkumar Rana, the main accused in a fake degree scam. The orders were pronounced on a petition filed by the Himachal police CID’s special investigation team (SIT) probing the scam, said Inspector General Atul Fulzale.

The SIT had issued two non-bailable warrants, which remained unserved as Rana’s wife Ashoni Kanwar and daughter Aaina Rana were unavailable at their residential addresses. Both were booked in March 2020.

Notices directing them to present themselves for the probe were affixed at four addresses, including their residence at Madhav University on Abu Road in Rajasthan and their houses in Karnal and Una district.

Ashoni, who hails from Una, allegedly obtained fake degrees from her own university and on its basis was shown as a faculty member and drew a handsome salary. They were university trustees and allegedly purchased properties by siphoning off money from the institute’s accounts. According to their passport details, both are reportedly in Australia. The Inspector General said efforts were afoot to issue a red-corner notice against the duo. The process is also learnt to be underway to seek extradition of theirs as well as son of Rana from Australia.

Hiding in Australia?

• Ashoni Kanwar and daughter Aaina learnt to be in Australia
• 2 non-bailable warrants against them remained unserved
• Police are making efforts to get a red-corner notice issued

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