Pune: Another Arrest in SPPU Fake Degree Certificate Racket, Police Probe Wider Network
Pune, 5th August 2026: The alleged Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) degree certificate forgery case has widened, with the Chatushrungi police arresting another accused for allegedly preparing fake B.Com marksheets and degree certificates that were sold for ₹70,000. Investigators suspect the accused may have similarly cheated several others by producing forged academic documents.
The arrested accused has been identified as Pradeep Mahadev Khatate (53), a resident of Warje Malwadi. A Pune court has remanded him to police custody till August 8.
Police have also booked the alleged mastermind, Ramesh Damodar Mukhekar (48), a resident of Shindenagar in Old Sangvi, based on a complaint lodged by the university administration at the Chatushrungi police station.
According to the police, Mukhekar works in the university’s Finance and Accounts Department and is currently posted in the Examination Department. He allegedly misled the father of a student by claiming that his son had successfully completed his B.Com degree and handed over forged marksheets and a fake degree certificate.
During the investigation, police allegedly found that Khatate had prepared the forged academic documents, while the accused allegedly received ₹70,000 through Google Pay in exchange for the fake certificates.
Khatate was produced before the court on Monday. Seeking his police custody, Public Prosecutor Sheela Ghodswar told the court that investigators needed to ascertain the tools and methods used to create the forged documents and determine whether the accused had prepared similar fake degree certificates for other individuals.
Accepting the prosecution’s request, the court remanded Khatate to police custody till August 8.
Police are now examining digital evidence and financial transactions to identify other possible beneficiaries and victims linked to the alleged forgery racket.
