Bhubaneswar, Mar 22 (IANS): Police have busted a fake certificate racket operating in Odisha since 2007 and arrested seven persons for their involvement in the crime, an official here said Friday.

The gang was printing fake class 10th board certificates in the Soro area of Balasore district and selling them in the backward district of Malkangiri, police officer Anirudha Routray told IANS.

The offenders were charging Rs.10,000 to Rs.20,000 for each certificate.

On the basis of a complaint received, police verified one certificate and found it fake; that set off the hunt for the culprits, the police officer said.

Those arrested Thursday include five people from Malkangiri district and two people who belong to Balasore district.

The kingpin of the racket was, however, still at large.

Police have seized the printing unit used for the crime, and at least 40 fake certificates. Policemen are investigating whether any people who got fake certificates from these racketeers were offered jobs in the government.