Overview A special PMLA court in Shimla has declared Mandeep Rana and his mother Ashoni Kanwar , promoters of a Himachal Pradesh -based private university, as Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) . This declaration is in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged sale of "fake" degrees to students. Key Developments FEO Declaration: Made against Mandeep Rana and Ashoni Kanwar under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) of 2018 . University Involvement: The two are promoters of Manav Bharti University , located in Solan . Current Location: Both accused are currently based in Australia , according to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) . ED Case: The ED registered a case against the promoters in 2020 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) . Proceeds of Crime: The ED alleged that Raj Kumar Rana and his associates obtained proceeds of crime worth ₹387 crore through the sale of "fake" degrees. Chargesheet Filing: A chargesheet was filed by the ED in December 2022 against Raj Kumar Rana and 15 others . Court Summons: The special PMLA court in Shimla issued summons to Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana in January 2023 . Non-Compliance: The accused "did not comply" with the court's order, leading to the issuance of open-ended non-bailable warrants in November 2023 . Legal and Regulatory Context The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) is designed to bring to justice individuals who have left India to evade the law after committing fraud with a benchmark value of at least ₹100 crore . Notable past declarations under FEOA include Vijay Mallya and Sanjay Bhandari . Implications and Future Actions The agency, based on the FEO declaration, will now move to confiscate the assets of Mandeep Rana and Ashoni Kanwar . This action underscores the government's commitment to recovering assets acquired through illegal means and holding economic offenders accountable. UPSC Relevance This news is relevant to GS2 (Government Policies) and GS3 (Economy) . It highlights the use of legal frameworks like PMLA and FEOA in combating economic crimes and money laundering. Understanding the functions of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the implications of such cases is crucial for the UPSC exam. Key Terms for UPSC PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act): Legislation to combat money laundering. FEOA (Fugitive Economic Offenders Act): Law to confiscate assets of economic offenders who flee the country. Enforcement Directorate (ED): Agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting financial crime.