A 19-year-old Indian student studying in the United States has been expelled from his university and is set to be deported after authorities discovered that his entire application, including documents for a full scholarship, was fraudulent. The deception was revealed when a Reddit moderator flagged a post titled “I have built my life and career on lies,” detailing the student’s fabrications.
Fabricated documents and false Claims
The student, who had faked his father’s death to secure a full scholarship, enrolled at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as a first-year student in August 2023. His admission was revoked after it was uncovered that he had forged his father’s death certificate.
He pleaded guilty to forgery on June 12 and was sentenced to one to three months in Northampton County Prison, equivalent to time served, according to his defense attorney Molly Heidorn, as reported by LehighValleyLive News.
As part of the plea deal, Anand agreed to return to India, and Lehigh University decided not to pursue restitution of $85,000. Charges of theft and tampering with records were dropped.
He was initially arrested and charged on April 30, according to the news release.
Reddit post exposes fraud
The full extent of Anand’s fraud came to light after a Reddit post titled “I have built my life and career on lies” exposed his actions. According to a release from District Attorney Stephen Baratta’s office, the student confessed to falsifying transcripts, financial documents, and a death certificate for his father. He also created a fake email address to impersonate a school principal.
Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Michael Weinert emphasized the Reddit moderator’s crucial role in uncovering the fraud. “The defendant only had one other university that he followed, which was Lehigh University. So, the moderator actually reached out to Lehigh to give them a heads up,” said Weinert.
Lehigh University expressed gratitude for the tip-off and the subsequent investigation. “We appreciate the report to our ethics hotline and the diligent investigation by the Lehigh University Police Department that led to Aryan Anand’s arrest,” the University stated, as reported by ABC News. This case underscores the importance of vigilance and integrity in the admissions process and highlights the role of community members in maintaining ethical standards in academia.