Fake LLB degree; Former High Court advocate expelled

KOCHI: A resident of Vanchiyur in Thiruvananthapuram has been found to have enrolled in Kerala University using a fake LLB certificate. Former Senate member Manu G. Raj has been expelled by the Kerala Bar Council after it was discovered that he had been practicing law in the High Court for ten years using fraudulent credentials.

The disciplinary committee, headed by Bar Council President K.N. Anil Kumar, has decided to file a complaint with the police for cheating and forgery. In 2013, Manu enrolled using a certificate purportedly from Bihar Magath University. However, an investigation revealed the certificate to be fake. Despite being confronted with evidence from the university confirming the forgery, Manu insisted that the certificate was genuine. Only after further verification by Magath University was it confirmed to be fake.

The fraud was exposed by A.G. Sachin, a resident of Maranallur, who had engaged Manu to represent him in a property case. However, after a year and a half of inaction, Sachin grew suspicious and discovered through a Right to Information request that Manu's certificate was forged. Subsequently, Sachin filed a complaint with the state police chief, leading to an investigation by the Cantonment Police which has now been transferred to the Ernakulam Central Police.

The investigation aims to uncover how the fake certificate was produced and whether others were involved in the fraud. Charges including forgery and using forged documents for fraud have been levied. Additionally, Sachin has raised concerns regarding the authenticity of Manu's certificate from Kerala University, prompting a call for further investigation by the governor.