Supreme Court Orders CBI Probe Into Advocate's Degree After University Denies Its Authenticity

The Supreme Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to verify the authenticity of an advocate's B.Com degree, after the concerned university declared the certificate to be 'forged and not issued by it.

A bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing the appeal against the Bar Council of India's Disciplinary Committee decision, where the question was regarding the Bachelor of Commerce (“B.Com”) degree possessed by the Petitioner being forged.

On the previous date of hearing, the Court had taken note of a letter issued by the Controller of Examinations of Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, stating that the mark sheet and B.Com degree in the Petitioner's name (Examination 1991) were “forged and not issued from the University.” At that time, the Court had directed him to produce photocopies of the degrees under which he claimed to be a graduate in Commerce and Law.

Following the Court's direction, the petitioner filed a photocopy of his B.Com (Hons.) degree certificate for the 1991 examination. However, counsel for the respondent drew the Court's attention to another Annexure, reaffirming the Magadh University's stance that the documents were fabricated.

In his defence, the petitioner stated that due to torn and missing records of the University, it may have caused difficulties in verifying the degree's authenticity.

Rejecting the petitioner's stance, the Court observed:

“..as an issue regarding veracity of a degree has arisen, we deem it appropriate to require the Central Bureau of Investigation, Delhi to do the investigation and ascertain whether the degree set up by the Petitioner of having passed the B.Com examination from Magadh University in the year 1991 is genuine or forged.”

“Let a copy of this Order be sent to the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Delhi who shall depute an officer to investigate into the above issue and submit report by or before 30.11.2025.”, the court ordered.

The matter is listed next on Dec. 12, 2025.

Cause Title: NARESH DILAWARI VERSUS CHARANJIT SINGH OBEROI

Click here to read/download the order

Appearance:

For Appellant(s) : Petitioner-in-person

For Respondent(s) : Mr. Aabhas Kshetarpal, AOR Mr. Dhiliban Varadarajan, Adv. Mr. Harsh N Dudhe, Adv. Mr Jasbir Singh Malik, Adv. Ms Prachi Sohi, Adv, Ms Pooja Devi, Adv. Mr Varun Punia, AOR