Mangalore: A major forgery racket has been busted by the City Police with the arrest of two persons who used to sell fake certificates to students.

This was informed to reporters here on November 8 by Mangalore Police Commissioner Manish Kharbikar. The arrested are Mohammad Shahid of Vazakkad in Kerala and Avinash Shetty of Suratkal. Police said Shetty was not only an MBA graduate but also a model who has even acted in Kannada movie. Investigation is on if they have any links with criminals in Kerala.

The two were running Dreams Career and Navabharat Education and Research Foundation which they say was affiliated to noted universities. They used to approach students and promise degree certificates within 30 days provided they are paid a particular amount as fee. They also provided fake migration certificates to students. Police have seized more than 70 certificates, including those of 50 students, two computers, eight mobile phones, Rs one lakh in cash, credit cards, two laptops, a scanner, and a colour printer from the duo.

They used to forge the certificates of Dr B R Ambedkar University, Agra, Chhattisgarh University, Dr C V Raman University, Bilaspur, SSCL Board, Karnataka, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, Bharatiya Shiksha Parishat, UP, Jamia Millia University, Sikkim, Central Board of Open School Education, Meerut, Vinayaka Mission University, New Delhi, STED Council, Thiruvananthapuram, EIILM University, UP and CMJ University, UP. They reportedly charged anywhere between Rs 30,000 to Rs 1.2 lakhs for each certificate.

The two were arrested from their offices of Dream Career at Bendorewell and Navabharat Education Research Foundation in M G Road.