US to Deport Indian Student for Faking Father’s Death To Get Scholarship; Reddit Post Exposes Scam

A shocking case of academic fraud has come to light at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, where a 19-year-old Indian student is set to be deported after his entire application, including a full scholarship claim, was discovered to be fraudulent.

The student, Aryan Anand, who enrolled in August 2023, had his admission revoked in 2024 when it was uncovered that he had fabricated numerous documents, including transcripts, financial records, and even his father’s death certificate. The elaborate fraud was exposed after a Reddit post titled “I have built my life and career on lies” caught the attention of a moderator, who then alerted the university.

The scheme involved creating fake email addresses to impersonate school officials and forging various documents. On June 12, 2024, Anand pleaded guilty to forgery and was sentenced to time served, which amounted to 1-3 months in Northampton County Prison. As part of his plea deal, he agreed to return to India. Charges of theft and record tampering were dropped, and Lehigh University waived restitution of $85,000 (approximately ₹70 lakh).

Lehigh University expressed gratitude for the tip-off and the subsequent investigation conducted by campus police. The institution emphasized its commitment to maintaining academic integrity.