Private HP university promoters declared fugitive economic offenders in 'fake' degree case

Key Points

1. A special PMLA court in Shimla declared Mandeep Rana and Ashoni Kanwar as Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO).
2. The case is related to money laundering linked to the alleged sale of 'fake' degrees by Manav Bharti University.
3. Mandeep Rana and Ashoni Kanwar are promoters of Manav Bharti University, along with Raj Kumar Rana.
4. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a case against the promoters in 2020 under PMLA.
5. Raj Kumar Rana and associates allegedly obtained proceeds of crime worth ₹387 crore through the sale of 'fake' degrees.
6. A chargesheet was filed by the ED in December 2022 against Raj Kumar Rana and 15 others.
7. Open-ended non-bailable warrants were issued against Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana in November 2023.
8. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) of 2018 targets individuals who have left India to evade law after committing fraud of at least ₹100 crore.