Ashoni Kanwar, son Mandeep Rana declared fugitive economic offenders in Himachal's fake degree scam case

The accused were declared fugitive economic offenders as per the provisions of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) 2018, based on the application filed by the ED's Shimla sub-zonal office.

ED initiated an investigation on the basis of three First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the Dharampur Police Station in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district under various sections of the IPC, 1860.

ED said its investigation revealed that the accused Raj Kumar Rana, with the help of his other co-accused, including his wife Ashoni Kanwar and son Mandeep Rana, sold fake degrees in lieu of money from agents and students.

"These fake degrees were sold in the name of Manav Bharti University, Solan and the Proceeds of Crime generated through this sale of fake degrees are quantified at Rs 387 crore," said the ED in a statement.

"The money obtained from this illegal activity was used by Raj Kumar Rana, Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana to acquire various movable and immovable assets across various states in their own names and in the names of other related entities."

ED has attached assets amounting to Rs 200 crore till date in the matter and the attachments.

Earlier in this case, ED had also filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) before the special PMLA court (PMLA) in Shimla against 14 persons and two entities, including Raj Kumar Rana, Ashoni Kanwar, Mandeep Rana, and others under the PMLA, 2002. The court took cognisance of the PC on January 4, 2023, and issued summonses to Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana, which were not complied with by them.

An open-ended non-bailable warrant was issued by the court on November 4, 2023, against Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana.

Further, ED said, during the course of the investigation, it was revealed that Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana had both fled the country after registration of FIRs against Manav Bharti University and are presently residing in Australia.

"Both persons were summoned to join the investigation, but they never joined the investigation. Moreover, all-out efforts were made to bring both the accused back to India to face the trial, but both accused refused to return to India to face criminal prosecution," said the ED.

Accordingly, an application under FEOA, 2018, was filed by ED as per section 4 of the FEOA, 2018, seeking to declare Ashoni Kanwar and Mandeep Rana as fugitive economic offenders and the same was allowed by the court in an order dated January 3, 2026. (ANI)