Impostor and Tout Caught While Trying to Collect Someone Else’s Certificate; Apprehended During Inquiry at the Counter
Bhagalpur: The administrative building of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU) is usually known for its bustle and crowds of students, but the atmosphere turned tense on Tuesday when a major case of fraud was uncovered at the university's certificate counter. A young man, who had arrived to collect a certificate under someone else's name, along with his accomplice—a tout—was caught red-handed by vigilant university staff and security personnel during an inquiry. This incident has exposed the network of 'certificate mafias' and touts active within the university.
Details of the Incident: Forgery Exposed at the Counter
According to the information received, a young man reached Counter No. 4 around 12:00 PM on Tuesday. Claiming to be the student in question, he submitted his application and demanded his degree/certificate. However, the vigilance of the clerk stationed at the counter and a verification against old records raised immediate suspicions.
Reason for Suspicion: A slight discrepancy was found between the photograph submitted with the application and the actual records of the concerned student. When the clerk asked him basic questions—such as the name of the department, the session, and the examination roll number—the youth began to stutter and provided incorrect answers.
Involvement of a Tout: Seeing the youth’s nervousness, the clerk grew suspicious and immediately alerted the university’s security team. Meanwhile, a suspicious individual standing outside the campus, who was assisting the youth, sensed the situation and attempted to slip away. Security personnel acted promptly and took both individuals into custody.
The Network of Touts and a Breach in University Security
During questioning, it was revealed that the apprehended youth was not a student himself but had been sent by someone else to collect the certificate. The second person caught with him is a tout from outside the university who has long been deceiving students by promising to get such 'work' done in exchange for hefty sums of money.
Preliminary investigations revealed:
Forged Documents: The application form in the youth's possession contained forged documents.
Intervention of Touts: The tout had convinced the youth that he could use his 'influence' within the university to procure any student's certificate.
Financial Transaction: In exchange for this service, the tout had demanded thousands of rupees from the youth.
Strong Stance by University Administration
The incident has sent shockwaves through the university administration. Taking a serious view of the matter, the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar immediately summoned the local police and handed over both accused individuals. The police are now working to determine if any university employee or other external individuals are involved in this racket.
The Registrar stated, "This is a despicable attempt to tarnish the university's image. We will not tolerate this under any circumstances. We will get to the root of this network, and strict legal action will be taken against anyone found guilty."
Warning to Students: Do Not Fall Prey to Touts
This incident has once again proven that touts active at the TMBU counters are preying on innocent students. The administration has clarified:
Apply Yourself: Every student should be present in person to collect their certificate. Do not get work done through any intermediaries or touts.
Official Process: Follow the procedure provided on the university's website. Do not give cash to any individual.
File a Complaint: If anyone in the university campus promises to get work done in exchange for money, immediately notify the security officers.
This incident is not just the arrest of a fraudster; it is also a major wake-up call for the TMBU administration. This could be a solid step toward ending the 'tout-raj' that has persisted for years. These elements, who exploit the crowds of students on campus, are not only breaking the law but are also putting the careers of genuine students at stake.
Following the police investigation, it is hoped that the masks will fall off all those behind this fraud. The university administration has also decided to implement stricter security arrangements. In the future, biometric or strict ID proof verification processes may be made mandatory at certificate counters to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
