In a major crackdown on academic fraud, a 28-year-old student from Telangana was arrested at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on June 1 after being deported from the United States for using forged educational certificates to obtain a student visa. The case has also led to the arrest of an education consultancy director allegedly involved in creating fake documents.
The student, identified as Pakiru Gopal Reddy from Parepalligudem, had traveled to the US on September 28, 2023, to pursue a master’s degree at Webster University in Missouri. He had submitted counterfeit BSc Computers certificates supposedly issued by Madurai Kamaraj University, according to a report by the Times of India.
RGIA Assistant Commissioner of Police V Sreekanth Goud said Reddy had stayed in the US for about 15 months. After briefly visiting India in 2024, he returned to the US in May this year. However, upon arrival at Dallas airport, he was deported due to an inactive SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) status, a key requirement for international student entry.
Upon landing in Hyderabad, Reddy was detained and questioned by immigration officials. During the interrogation, he revealed that Katoju Ashok, managing director of Sri Dhanalakshmi Overseas Private Limited in Vanasthalipuram, had arranged the fake degree certificates.
Following this confession, RGIA police arrested Ashok on June 2. He reportedly admitted to supplying counterfeit degrees to at least 15 students since 2020, charging between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1 lakh for each forged document.
A police search of Ashok’s premises led to the seizure of 150 fake mark sheets, provisional certificates, and recommendation letters from Madurai Kamaraj University and Osmania University. Officials also recovered Rs 10 lakh in cash, four mobile phones, and company stamps used in the forgery process.
Authorities are now expanding the investigation to trace other students who may have traveled abroad using similar fake documents.