"Acting on a tip-off, we arrested the five yesterday," a senior officer of the Kolkata police said.
"The accused used to run an educational institute named 'Jayashree Academy' at Behala, in south west Kolkata. They lured students that the institute would arrange for 'cheap and affordable' degrees, certificates and diplomas from various boards and universities across the country," he said.
They also claimed to be authorised agents of Bharat University, Bundelkhand University, Kanpur University, Karnataka State Open University, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Binanayak Mission University, Bihar Board and the Jharkhand Intermediate Council in West Bengal, he said.
The accused had promised to arrange a degree for a complainant through distance education in exchange of Rs 25,000, the officer said.
More From This Section
"Initially a payment of Rs 5000 was made for the purpose. But not even a single class was arranged for the complainant. Instead, the accused started claiming an additional Rs 10,000 as examination fee and charge for the certificates," he said.
The director of the institute was the kingpin of the entire racket, the officer said.