How Sprouts SIT Uncovered Falak Khan’s Fake PhD Scam.

Sprouts SIT Exposes Falak Khan’s Degree Fraud

· PhDs for Sale

· Diploma Mill Epidemic

· The “Dr.” Title for Hire

Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098

Fake PhD degrees are spreading rapidly, tarnishing the value of genuine academic achievements. Conmen like Falak Khan exploit non-existent universities such as “Colombo University” to mislead people and sell bogus doctorates. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) reveals how this racket erodes trust, misguides society, and demands urgent regulatory action. — Unmesh Gujarathi, Editor-in-Chief, Sprouts News.

Global Fake PhD Racket Uncovered, With Thousands of Fake ‘Doctors’ in India Alone, Investigation Reveals

A sophisticated international network is flooding the market with counterfeit PhD degrees from non-existent universities, undermining academic integrity and creating an epidemic of fraud that authorities are struggling to contain, a months-long investigation by this news organization has found.

The scam, which preys on the immense social and professional prestige of the “Dr.” title, has ensnared thousands of individuals—from alternative medicine practitioners and corporate trainers to aspiring academics—who now wield credentials as worthless as the paper they are printed on.

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The Deceptive Mirror: From Colombo to Oxford

The investigation, which corroborated and expanded upon initial reports by Sprouts News, found that the primary method involves creating “mirror universities.” These are fraudulent institutions with names deceptively similar to renowned ones.

The case of Falak Khan, claiming a PhD in Vastu from “Colombo University” (a non-existent entity, unlike the legitimate University of Colombo), is merely the tip of the iceberg. Our investigators have identified:

· “Oxford International University” (mimicking the University of Oxford)

· “Harvard University of Global Studies” (mimicking Harvard University)

These “universities” operate through professional-looking websites, often with stolen images and fabricated accreditation details. For fees ranging from ₹2 to ₹5 lakhs, they offer “honorary” degrees requiring no coursework, no research, and no thesis.

NGO’s in India have jumped in the race of offering piece of paper calling it has Dr. Certificate. One such was handed to Abhijit Bhickule.

Inside the Racket: How It Works

Our undercover operative contacted one such provider, who operates via WhatsApp and Telegram. The offer was straightforward: “Send your bio-data and photo. Choose your subject. We will create your PhD certificate and transcript from a recognized foreign university. No study. Payment upon delivery.”

The process bypasses every pillar of academia:

1. No Admission: No application process or entry requirements.
2. No Academics: No supervision, no peer review, no defense.
3. No Verification: The provided certificates lead only to a sham verification portal controlled by the scammers.

Expert Commentary: A Cancer on Academia

Dr. Anjali Mehta, Professor of Sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University, calls it a “cancer on the body of academia.”

“The value of a PhD is not the title; it is the years of rigorous training, critical thinking, and contribution to human knowledge that it represents,” she said. “These fakes dilute that value and create a false equivalence. When a public figure is exposed as a fraud, it erodes public trust in all experts, from scientists to doctors, at a time we need it most.”

Sanjeevkumar Sadanandan, a social activist who now heads a corporate security firm, highlighted the national security and corporate risks. “Imagine a ‘doctor’ designing a bridge based on fake credentials, or a CFO with a fake PhD in finance making billion-dollar decisions. The potential for damage is enormous. We need a national, verifiable academic database urgently.”

Beyond Alternative Medicine: The Corporate Invasion

While the scam first gained notoriety in fields like alternative medicine and astrology, our investigation found it has deeply penetrated the corporate world.

· Leadership Coaches and Trainers: Many market themselves as “Dr.” to justify high fees and enhance their credibility.

· Senior Management: HR departments, often overworked, rarely verify degrees beyond the initial document check, allowing fraudulent titles to persist on business cards and email signatures for years.

· Media Personalities: Several popular life coaches and TV commentators are under scrutiny for degrees from institutions flagged as “diploma mills” by international watchdog sites.

The Legal and Regulatory Vacuum

The problem is compounded by a weak regulatory response. While the University Grants Commission (UGC) maintains a list of fake universities in India, it has limited power over international entities.

“The UGC can warn against specific institutions, but the onus of verification still largely falls on employers and the public,” a UGC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted. “We are working with the Ministry of Education to strengthen laws and create a more robust verification framework.”

Legal action is possible under Sections 419 (cheating by personation) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code, but prosecutions are rare, as victims are often unwilling to come forward and admit they were duped.

Also Read:   NMC Imposes ₹10 L Fine on DY Patil College, Orders ₹75 Cr Refund.

A Call to Action: How to Protect Yourself

The SIT recommends the following steps for verification:

1. Check the UGC List: Consult the UGC website for a list of fake Indian and foreign universities.

2. Demand Transcripts: A genuine PhD holder can provide detailed transcripts of their coursework and grades. A fake one will only have a certificate.

3. Contact the University Directly: Use the official contact information from the university’s legitimate website (e.g., .ac.uk for UK universities) to verify a degree. Do not use contact details provided on the certificate.

4. Scrutinize the Website: Fake university websites often have poor English, stolen images, and grammatical errors. Check for a physical address and legitimate accreditation details.

This investigation concludes that the trade in fake PhDs is not a victimless crime. It is a direct assault on knowledge, expertise, and public trust. As one genuine PhD scholar poignantly asked, “I spent five years of my life in a library and lab. What did they spend? Five minutes uploading a photo to a scammer? And yet, we share the same title. Where is the justice in that?”

Sprouts’ appeals to the public to beware of this racket- unless fake image-building is your thing.

Roster of Fraudsters: Beware of these individuals selling bogus PhD degrees. Contact the police immediately if you have been scammed:

Maharshi Keshvananda, Anil Nair Thampi, Dinesh Kishor Gupta, Akepe Linus Enobi, Avinash Pawar, Joseph Legend Mfon, Musharrof Hossain, Vivek Choudhari- ESRDS, Siddic A Muhammed (Dubai), Kalyanji Jana, Riyas Sulaima Lebbe, Francisco Sardinha, Tapan Kumar Rautaray, Pawan Kumar Dhoot, Dnyaneshwar Yashwant Sapkal, Sundari Thakur, Madhu Krishan, Ghanshyam Sakharam Kolambe, Peeyush Pandit, Abhishek Pandey, Mahendra Shamkant Deshpande (Nashik-Saputara-Gujarat), Lal Bahadur Rana (Nepal), Sunil Singh Pardeshi, Mangesh Deshmukh, Nareshchandra Kathole- Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh IAS Academy, Amravati, Kishor Baliram Patil- (Bhivandi- reporter), Vishwas Arote (Akole- reporter), Surykant Rawool, Tarvinder Singh, Kiran Bongale (Sangli), Anwar Sheikh (Pune), BuAbdullah, Lokesh Muni (Ahinsa Vishwa Bharati ), Kavita Bajaj and Mansukh Damji Tank – (Rajkumar Tank), Gaurav Shah- BJP, Anajni Kumar- Delhi, Anwar Shaikh (Pune ), Harshad Madhukar Sangle (Pune) & Dnyaneshwar Yashwant Sapkal.

List of fake universities awarding bogus PhD degrees:

► Gandhi Peace Foundation Nepal
► World Culture and Environment Protection Commission
► The George Washington University of Peace, United States of America
► American East Coast University
► Socrates Social Research University
► World Human Rights Protection Commission (WHPRC)
► World Peace of United Nations University
► Mount Elbert Central University
► Maryland State University
► The University of Macaria
► Theophany University
► The Open International University of Complementary Medicine, Sri Lanka
► University of America Hawaii and Inox International University
► World Mystic Science Institute (OPC) Private Limited
► University of South America
► Southwestern American University
► The American University, USA
► Zoroastrian University
► Vinayaka Missions Singhania
► Adi Shankar Vedic University, Netherlands
► American Heritage University of Southern California (AHUSC)
► Peace University
► Global Human Rights Trust (GHRT)
► Trinity World University, UK
► St Mother Teresa University
► American University of Global Peace
► Jeeva Theological Open University
► World Peace Institute of United Nations
► Global Human Peace University
► Bharat Virtual University for Peace and Education
► National Global Peace University
► Ballsbridge University
► International Open University of Humanity Health, Science and Peace, USA
► Harshal University
► International Internship University
► British National University of Queen Mary
► Jordan River University
► Boston Imperial University
► Dayspring Christian University
► South Western American University
► Global Triumph Virtual University
► Vikramshila Hindi Vidyapeeth
► Jnana Deepa University (Pune)
► Oxfaa University
► Mount Elbert Central University
► Maa Bhuvaneshwari International University
► The Institute of Entrepreneurship and Management Studies (IEMS)
► Ecole Superieure Robert de Sorbon
► Central Christian University
► Azteca University
► University of Swahili
► Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Lok Vidyapith, Amravati
► International Human Rights Ambassador International Peace Corps Association
► Indo Global University, Hyderabad
► Mount Elbert Central University
► McSTEM Eduversity, USA
► Social Awareness and Peace University
► Indian School of Management and Studies
► Socrates Social Research University
► International Global Peace University
► Ballsbridge University
► Commonwealth of Dominica
► International Anti-corruption and Human Rights Council
► Bharat Virtual University
► Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Hindi Vidyapith
► The George Washington University of Peace
► Asia Vedic Culture Research University
► Magic Book of Record
► European Digital University (EDU)
► Hessen International University
► Chicago Open University
► Global Conclave Virtual University
► Global Cocord Virtual University
► Cambridge Digital of University
► America Internation University (AIU)

List of NGOs giving fake awards and degrees:

► Dadasaheb Phalke Icon Awards Film Organisation
► Shri Dadasaheb Phalke International Award Film Foundation
► World Human Protection Commission
► Mahatma Gandhi Global Peace Foundation
► Empower Social and Education Trust
► Nelson Mandela Nobel Award Academy
► Diplomatic Mission Global Peace

END OF REPORT

Sprouts News SIT is committed to continuing this investigation. If you have any information related to degree fraud, please contact us confidentially on 9322755098 contact number.