EducationExclusiveTrending News

Colombo University Name Misused in Fake Degrees Racket.

Unmesh Gujarathi
Unmesh Gujarathi
12 Min Read
Fake degree scam involving misuse of the University of Colombo Name

Colombo University Name Misused in Fake Degrees Racket

Colombo University Name Misused

• Honor for Sale!

• Bollywood Meets Bogus Degrees

Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) exposes a major fake degree scam involving misuse of the University of Colombo’s name by scammer Kiran Bongale. In a related case, Bollywood producer Jayantilal Gada received a bogus honorary doctorate from AUGP. The SIT warns against fraudulent institutions selling unaccredited academic titles for prestige.
The University of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s oldest and most prestigious public research institution, is at the center of a troubling academic scam. Known for its excellence in Natural and Social Sciences, Law, Mathematics, and Technology, it consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in South Asia. However, its name and logo are now being exploited in a fake degree racket uncovered by the Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Kiran Bongale, a serial scammer from Sangli, has allegedly used the University of Colombo’s branding to sell counterfeit degrees to unsuspecting individuals in India. This not only deceives the public but significantly undermines the academic credibility and international reputation of the university.




Contents
Colombo University Name Misused• Honor for Sale!• Bollywood Meets Bogus DegreesUniversity of Colombo’s Academic Identity Misused in Indian Degree FraudJayantilal Gada’s Bogus Honorary Doctorate Triggers Wider ScrutinySprouts SIT Connects Dots in Widening Fake Degree NetworkA Wake-Up Call for India’s Education System and PolicymakersTrust but VerifyAlso Read: Cold Chain Chaos: Health Tender Scam Rocks Maharashtra.Related Article: PM’s brother, actors, sports stars – united by fake PhDs.Related Article: Fake Dadasaheb Phalke Awards & PhDs: Scams at Your Doorstep.Related Article: Fake PhD Racket Exposed: Bindra, Krishan Under Scrutiny.Related Article: Fake Honorary Doctorates Scam Exposed Across India.Related Article: Former mayor of Mumbai caught with Bogus Ph.D.‘Sprouts’ appeals to the public to beware of this racket- unless fake image-building is your thing.Roster of Fraudsters List of fake universities awarding bogus PhD degrees:List of NGOs giving fake awards and degrees:

University of Colombo’s Academic Identity Misused in Indian Degree Fraud

Sprouts SIT reached out to the University of Colombo for verification. In its official response, the university confirmed that it had no connection with the degrees being circulated by Bongale. It declared the documents as unauthorized and fraudulent, clearly distancing itself from any affiliations or satellite campuses in India.
As a direct consequence, an FIR is being filed, the Indian Embassy has been notified, and the Ministry of Education in Maharashtra has been informed. Sprouts SIT has formally submitted documents and proof of the scam to the concerned authorities for immediate legal action.
Prospective students and degree-seekers are strongly advised to verify institutional credentials and avoid falling prey to fraudulent organizations offering quick titles for a fee. The rise of such scams highlights the urgent need for stricter regulation of honorary and academic recognitions in India.

Jayantilal Gada’s Bogus Honorary Doctorate Triggers Wider Scrutiny

In another alarming revelation, Jayantilal Gada, a well-known Bollywood film producer, was conferred an honorary doctorate by the Academy of Universal Global Peace (AUGP)—an organization falsely projecting itself as affiliated with the United Nations University for Global Peace. The convocation ceremony held on September 1, 2018, was attended by industry figures including the late Satish Kaushik and the Gada family.



The Sprouts SIT investigation confirms that AUGP is a fraudulent body, with no legal recognition or affiliation to the United Nations or any accredited global academic entity. Its founder, Madhu Krishan, is a repeat offender known for distributing bogus degrees in exchange for money, public recognition, and influence.
Sprouts SIT suspects that this ceremony and its wide media coverage—particularly by The Times of India—may be part of a paid news strategy aimed at lending false legitimacy to the degree and the conferring body.
Fake degree scam involving misuse of the University of Colombo Name

Sprouts SIT Connects Dots in Widening Fake Degree Network

Krishan’s network includes notorious individuals like Sopan Bongane, Tapan Kumar Rautaray, and Pawan Kumar Bhoot (linked to Police Public Press), who have all been named in ongoing investigations into fake doctorate scams. These figures operate under a veil of international peace or human rights organizations but are essentially selling academic illusions.
The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) has documented a pattern: fake universities mimic global institutions, create flashy ceremonies, recruit public figures for optics, and sell unearned academic titles to elevate clients’ resumes and social standing.
Sprouts SIT has exposed similar scams involving other fabricated organizations using names resembling top universities from the USA, UK, and now Sri Lanka. These fake institutions target ambitious professionals and influencers who are willing to pay for prestige without pursuing legitimate academic work.

A Wake-Up Call for India’s Education System and Policymakers

The Indian public must view this as more than just a series of isolated incidents. It’s a systemic erosion of academic integrity. The use of fraudulent honorary doctorates and counterfeit degrees for personal branding, job advancement, or political clout should be met with strict penalties and public disclosure.



Buyers of these titles, whether knowingly or not, are complicit in spreading false academic achievements. Legal consequences aside, such actions damage personal credibility and insult the hard work of genuine scholars.
The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues to track, document, and expose this growing network. With confirmed responses from the University of Colombo, coordination with Indian legal authorities, and ongoing awareness campaigns, the SIT aims to bring transparency to an area riddled with deception.
Colombo University Name Misused in Fake Degree

Trust but Verify

“All That Glitters Is Not Gold.”
Verify before you dignify.
Anyone approached by or involved with organizations promising honorary doctorates or foreign degrees should immediately verify the institution’s credentials with official education bodies or embassies. Public awareness is the strongest shield against academic fraud.
If you or someone you know has been defrauded by entities like AUGP or individuals like Kiran Bongale, contact local law enforcement and submit evidence to Sprouts SIT for further investigation.

Also Read: Cold Chain Chaos: Health Tender Scam Rocks Maharashtra.

Related Article: PM’s brother, actors, sports stars – united by fake PhDs.

Related Article: Fake Dadasaheb Phalke Awards & PhDs: Scams at Your Doorstep.

Related Article: Fake PhD Racket Exposed: Bindra, Krishan Under Scrutiny.

Related Article: Fake Honorary Doctorates Scam Exposed Across India.

Related Article: Former mayor of Mumbai caught with Bogus Ph.D.

‘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 Bhoot, 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)

 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

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ByUnmesh Gujarathi
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With over 28 years of experience, Unmesh Gujarathi stands as one of India’s most credible and courageous investigative journalists. As Editor-in-Chief of Sprouts, he continues to spearhead the newsroom’s hard-hitting journalism.
Past Editorial Roles:
•DNA (Daily News & Analysis) •The Times Group •The Free Press Journal
•Saamana •Dabang Dunia •Lokmat
Education:
•Master of Commerce (M.Com) •MBA •Degree in Journalism
Beyond his editorial leadership, Unmesh is a prolific author, having written over 12 books in Marathi and English on subjects such as Balasaheb Thackeray, the RTI Act, career guidance, and investigative journalism.
A regular contributor to national dailies and digital platforms, his work continues to inform, challenge, and inspire.
• A journalist. A leader. A voice for the people.
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