A recent RTI inquiry led to the termination of DU professor Ankita Kilsan’s appointment following the issuance of a show-cause notice. Subsequent investigations allegedly revealed that she had been deceived by two DU professors, who provided her with fabricated copies of research articles purportedly published in fraudulent journals.
Securing a teaching position at DU is considered one of the most competitive achievements in Indian academia. For Ankita Kilsan, a Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) alumna, what she believed to be the culmination of years of academic research allegedly turned into an elaborate case of forgery and publication fraud.
Kilsan, a resident of Shalimar Bagh, has alleged that she was deceived by three individuals, including two University of Delhi assistant professors, into believing they would help strengthen her academic profile and secure her a faculty position. According to her complaint, she paid ₹1 lakh in cash for the publication of her research articles in what were represented as reputed academic journals. She later discovered that the publications had allegedly been fabricated, resulting in her termination of appointment as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Bharati College in August 2024.
According to court records, Kilsan first came into contact with Sanjeev Kumar in May 2021. He allegedly introduced himself as a medical officer at AIIMS and offered to help her obtain a teaching position at DU. Through him, she was introduced to Pramod Kumar and Luke Khanna, DU assistant professors at Dyal Singh College and Bharati College, respectively.
Kilsan has alleged that the three repeatedly told her that publication in reputed academic journals was essential for securing a teaching position. Relying on their advice, she handed over her original research manuscripts and allegedly paid ₹1 lakh towards publication charges and travel expenses by May 2022.
By the end of 2022, she was allegedly provided copies of research articles, thesis reports and publication certificates purportedly issued by journals including Shodh Padha, Shodh Samhita and Madhya Bharati. According to the complaint, these documents were used as part of her academic credentials during the recruitment process, following which she was appointed as an Assistant Professor at Bharati College.
The matter came to light in August 2024 when Bharati College informed Kilsan that an RTI inquiry had raised questions about the authenticity of the publications. Following the inquiry, her appointment was terminated.
Kilsan told The Indian Express,
“I trusted them fully. Thought they were a fraternity. I found out in July 2024 that my articles are fake. I kept questioning them, and they kept fooling me… My mental health deteriorated so much”
She said the termination not only affected her professional reputation but also disrupted her doctoral studies. She said,
“Since 2024, I have been suffering. I completed my PhD under such stressful circumstances. The work I could have done in six months took over one year.”
According to her complaint, Luke Khanna later demanded ₹25 lakh to “settle” the issue and help her retain her position. She further alleged that when confronted, Sanjeev Kumar claimed the documents were merely “clone copies” that had been printed. To independently verify the publications, Kilsan and her family travelled to Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, where they allegedly found that the journals and publication records were not genuine.
In November 2024, Kilsan filed a complaint at Shalimar Bagh Police Station. After examining the complaint, the Rohini Court directed the police to register an FIR and submit a compliance report along with a detailed status report within 30 days.
In its order, the court observed that the complaint disclosed a prima facie case of cheating and noted that forensic examination of the disputed journals, certificates and related documents would be necessary to establish their authenticity. Judicial Magistrate First Class Gaurav Katariya observed that the alleged documents required scientific examination by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to determine their origin, genuineness and whether they had been fabricated or cloned.
As reported by Millennium Post, the court further observed that several aspects of the case – including forensic examination of the publication certificates, verification with the concerned universities and publishers, and analysis of electronic evidence such as WhatsApp conversations, call records and a laptop allegedly used during the application process – could not be effectively undertaken by a private complainant and required a police investigation.
The court also noted that the allegations, if substantiated during the investigation, indicated the possible preparation and use of forged documents and publication certificates. However, the allegations remain under investigation, and no findings of guilt have been made.
Kilsan is currently being represented by advocates Pardeep Khatri and Pranjal Bhaskar. She has expressed hope that the investigation will establish the authenticity of her claims and help restore her appointment as an Assistant Professor at DU.
Rajarshi Ghosh
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