Reveals 'Admission Fraud' Gangs Amidst Indian Students' Deportation in Canada

In a small tailoring shop in Jalandhar, Punjab, 67-year-old Jagtar Chand earns a daily income of Rs 500-700 (USD 6 to 8). He took a loan in 2017 to send his daughter to Toronto, Canada for higher studies. The loan amount is Rs 25 lakh (over 30,000 USD), and at his current pace, it will take him another 20 years to repay it fully. Chand explains that he borrowed money from multiple sources because, being 61 years old at the time, he couldn't apply for a loan from a government-owned bank due to his low income. Currently, he is only able to pay the interest on the loan. Chand had hoped that once his daughter found a job in Canada after completing her studies, she would help repay the remaining amount.

Chand expresses his concerns about the deportation threats faced by hundreds of students in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. If his daughter faces deportation, it would shatter their family's hopes. He explains that he used his life savings of 47 years to send his daughter to Canada, and his wife, two other daughters, and a son are working day and night in India to support her expenses, hoping that she will find a well-paying job and end their financial struggles. The uncertainty surrounding his daughter's future fills them with sleepless nights.

In Shahkot, located about 50 kilometers from Jalandhar, Navjot Kaur Sindhu shares a similar story. Her niece, Oshin Arora, also faces an uncertain future after leaving India in 2017 to study in Canada. Sindhu reveals that they discovered the agent had fraudulently obtained documents from the university, which came as a surprise to them. She believes they are paying the price for their innocence. As a lawyer, Sindhu appeals to both the state (Punjab) and central governments to address the issue with the Canadian government. She emphasizes that deportation would not only disrupt their lives but also shatter their hopes.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) recently issued deportation notices to students whose admission offer letters were found to be fake. This has led to widespread protests by students in Canada. Lovepreet Singh, one of the protesting students, raises concerns about the misrepresentation cases against many students. He questions why these fraudulent letters were only identified after five years or when they applied for permanent residency.

In response to the demonstrations, the Canadian government announced a temporary halt on deportations. Additionally, the Canadian immigration minister stated that they are working on a process to allow innocent students, who are victims of fraud, to remain in Canada. However, those who knowingly committed fraud or were complicit in such schemes will face the consequences of not following Canadian laws.

Amidst the controversy surrounding Indian students obtaining fake documents to study abroad, CNN-News18 conducted an undercover investigation, revealing the operations of syndicates in New Delhi and Punjab. These syndicates claim to provide fraudulent documents required for international travel.

The investigation team discovered that these syndicates can arrange various documents, from graduation degrees to language proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL, for a hefty payment. An education consultant revealed that a graduation degree from a private college in states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, or Punjab can be obtained for Rs 1.3 lakh to 2 lakh. For language tests like IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE, the consultant stated that the cost ranges from Rs 4.5 lakh to 8-10 lakh.

The investigation further exposed the method used to forge these tests. A picture of the candidate is circulated among the syndicate, and a lookalike is found to take the exam on the candidate's behalf.