The Alleged Money-Laundering Scam at Manav Bharti University
In a recent development, a special PMLA court in Shimla has identified two promoters of Himachal Pradesh-based Manav Bharti University as fugitive economic offenders (FEOs) in connection to a money-laundering case related to an alleged fake degree scam involving more than ₹100 crore, as reported by officials on Friday.
The individuals declared as FEOs under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), 2018, are Mandeep Rana and his mother, Ashoni Kanwar. Both individuals are associated with the Solan-based private university, alongside the primary promoter, Raj Kumar Rana, who is Kanwar’s spouse.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has disclosed that Mandeep Rana and Ashoni Kanwar are presently residing in Australia and have disregarded court summons issued in India.
In December 2022, the ED filed a chargesheet against Raj Kumar Rana and 15 other individuals linked to the case. Subsequently, in January 2023, a special court operating under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) acknowledged the charges and issued summonses to Kanwar and Mandeep Rana.
The implementation of the FEOA is designed to discourage high-value economic offenders from escaping Indian jurisdiction by residing overseas, particularly in cases involving alleged fraud or economic offenses exceeding ₹100 crore.
Noteworthy personalities like liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya and UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari have previously been declared fugitive economic offenders under the same legislation.
