Court Orders FIR Against Two DU Professors In Rs 1 Lakh Fake Research Paper Publication Case

DU Fake Research Paper Publication Case: The Rohini District court has directed the Delhi Police to file a First Information Report (FIR) against three individuals, including two Delhi University (DU) professors over alleged cheating, according to news agency ANI. The decision was taken following a complaint lodged by Ankita Kilsen, a former assistant professor of Bharti college. She alleged that the accused took Rs 1 lakh from her for publishing research papers, which later turned out to be fake.

Job Termination Following Fake Research Paper Publications

Ankita had used the publications to secure a job at a college. However, an Right to Information (RTI) inquiry found that the publications were fake, leading to the termination of her job. The accused had also provided certifications pertaining to the publications which were also found fake.

Ankita said that she was introduced to Sanjeev Kumar, a senior medical officer at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi in May 2021 via her social circle. She alleged that Sanjeev falsely represented his position at the institute, which, however, was invalidated through a RTI inquiry.

Sanjeev, as per the allegations, coordinated a meeting between the complainant Ankita and Assistant Professor Pramod Kumar and Luke Khanna in December 2021 for the purpose of her career as an Assistant Professor. Khanna worked as an Assistant Professor at the Bharati College, University of Delhi, at the relevant time.

Professor As A Co-Author In One Of The Published Research Papers

It was alleged that in May 2022, she was advised by the two professors regarding the necessity of having published research papers in reputed journals for securing an Assistant Professor job. On this pretext, the accused allegedly took a sum of Rs. 1 lakh in cash from the complainant for publication and travel charges. Pramod Kumar and Luke Khanna provided three published research papers to Ankita between July and December 2022 along with certificates of publication, claiming their authenticity. The court noted that the complainant’s belief in legitimacy of the published articles was reinforced after seeing Kumar being enlisted as a co-author in one of the publications.

Professors Helped Complainant In Filing Application Form For Teaching Post

In February 2023, the two professors helped the complainant in filing out the application forms for the post of Assistant professor, according to the allegations. On November 23, the complainant was selected as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, Bharati College, University of Delhi.

On August 8, 2024, the complainant was informed regarding the fakeness of the published journals following a RTI inquiry by the Principal of Bharati College. The complainant, Ankita was issued a show-cause notice and was terminated.

The Need For FIR

The court said that the need for the registration of an FIR is necessitated also because of the Rs. 1 lakh amount paid in cash by the complainant to the accused persons.

While directing registration of FIR, the court observed, "What makes an act criminally liable is the presence of a fraudulent intention behind it.

"In this case, such an intention appears evident from the very outset. The alleged making of a false document, combined with the deliberate supply of fake certificates to the complainant, collectively points to a dishonest and fraudulent state of mind on the part of all three accused, the court said."