An Indian student, Aryan Anand, has recently been in the spotlight after admitting to fabricating documents, including his father’s death certificate, to secure a full scholarship to an elite US university. The 19-year-old’s fraudulent actions came to light through a Reddit post titled I have built my life and career on lies, where he detailed the extent of his deception. Anand confessed to forging transcripts, financial statements, and even creating a fake email address to pose as his school principal to bolster his fraudulent application.
The anonymous confession on Reddit led to the unravelling of Anand’s web of lies, prompting a thorough investigation by Lehigh University, where he was enrolled. He was arrested two months ago and pleaded guilty to forgery on June 12, 2024, which ultimately resulted in the revocation of his admission to Lehigh.
Despite facing potential prison time of 10 to 20 years for his crimes, Anand struck a plea deal with the university that spared him imprisonment. Instead, he will face expulsion and deportation back to India. As part of the agreement, charges of theft and tampering with records were dropped, and restitution of $85,000 was not pursued by Lehigh University.
Anand’s case highlights the repercussions of committing forgery and fraud to secure educational opportunities, underscoring the importance of transparency and integrity in academic pursuits. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for students seeking shortcuts to achieve academic success, emphasizing the consequences of dishonesty and the value of earning accomplishments through legitimate means.
