Thiruvananthapuram/Kozhikode: A major fake university degree racket busted by Kerala Police has unexpectedly sparked a political controversy in Australia, drawing sharp criticism of the Australian government’s student visa enforcement and academic integrity measures. The racket, uncovered in late 2025, involved a sprawling pan-Indian network that forged and distributed counterfeit university certificates — including fake foreign degrees — to job seekers and students across multiple states. Kerala Police arrested 11 suspects linked to the operation, which may have supplied fraudulent certificates to more than 10 lakh individuals nationwide, with printing conducted in Tamil Nadu and distribution coordinated via Bengaluru.
Australian Senator Malcolm Roberts used the bust to launch a political attack on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government, claiming it had failed to act effectively against foreign students allegedly using purchased degrees to work or study in Australia. In social media posts and parliamentary commentary, Roberts — a member of the conservative One Nation Party — argued that hundreds of thousands of forged certificates seized in India likely correlate with systemic enforcement lapses in Australia’s student visa system. He urged stronger action, including visa cancellations and deportations for holders of fraudulent qualifications, and criticised the Albanese administration for what he described as “inaction” despite evidence of widespread fraud.
The Indian investigation revealed the main accused, known as Dhaneesh or “Dany”, had rebuilt his illegal network after a prior conviction, using skilled printing crews to forge certificates with university seals and signatures. Police are continuing to examine whether any university officials were complicit and are tracing individuals who may have gained employment or admission overseas using these forged documents.
The controversy has reverberated beyond India’s borders as questions mount about cross-border verification of academic credentials and international cooperation in combating education fraud. Australian authorities have not yet formally linked specific visa holders to the Kerala racket, but the issue has intensified scrutiny of migration policies and regulatory oversight of foreign qualifications.
News as reported
