Kayamkulam: SFI leader Nikhil Thomas, who was arrested in connection with a fake degree certificate to receive M.Com admission at a college in Alappuzha, has revealed that he paid Rs 2 lakh for the forged certificate on the advice of a friend. 

During a preliminary questioning by the police on Friday night, Nikhil revealed that he acquired the fake degree certificate of a course offered by Kalinga University on the advice of a friend living abroad. He alleged that the friend assured him the certificate is enough for admission to the M.Com course. Meanwhile, the identity of the foreign friend is yet to be released. 

According to police sources, Nikhil, who had been absconding for the past five days, was taken into police custody from the KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) bus depot in Kottayam. Following this, police questioned him on Friday night.