Rajasthan: Fugitive Wanted for Selling Fake Degrees Arrested by SOG After 18 Months on the Run

Jaipur: Ravi Tyagi, a notorious criminal wanted for distributing fake degrees to thousands of students, has finally been arrested by the Special Operations Group (SOG) after evading police for over 18 months. During his long period on the run, Tyagi reportedly hid at several prominent religious sites, including Kedarnath, Kashi, Vrindavan, Omkareshwar, and Ujjain, managing to stay out of police custody—until he traveled to meet his girlfriend.

SOG Nets Ravi Tyagi
The SOG had declared a reward of ₹25,000 for Tyagi, who had been at large since April 2025, following raids at OPJS University in Churu, Rajasthan, where he was first identified as selling backdated fake degrees. SOG ADG Vishal Bansal stated that numerous candidates had managed to secure government jobs in different departments by presenting these fraudulent qualifications.

Background of the Fraud
Ravi Tyagi, also known as Ravi Kumar, hails from Kanasil village in Dholpur district. He allegedly sold backdated degrees and mark sheets to hundreds of students through a network involving private universities and intermediaries. Investigations revealed large-scale fraud in the 2022 Physical Education Teacher (PTI) recruitment process, with multiple candidates obtaining fake qualifications to secure jobs.

Universities and Officials Under Scrutiny
The SOG has already arrested 18 individuals connected to the scam, including chancellors, directors, and former registrars from OPJS University, Churu, and JS University, Shikohabad (Uttar Pradesh). The operation exposed that private universities were systematically issuing fake degrees to candidates through agents, defrauding students of crores of rupees.

Police Investigation Ongoing
Authorities are continuing to probe Tyagi’s network to identify all beneficiaries of the fake degrees and the officials involved. The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in cracking one of Rajasthan’s largest academic fraud operations in recent years.