Two men arrested as part of a £1 million fraud investigation at the University of Greater Manchester have been released on bail, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed.

Officers executed warrants in Bolton and South Yorkshire on Wednesday 4 November. A man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation, perverting the course of justice and fraud by abuse of position, while a man in his 60s was arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation, perverting the course of justice and fraud by false representation. Both have now been released on bail as the investigation continues.

The inquiry centres on alleged financial irregularities at the university, formerly the University of Bolton, between 2014 and 2025. Detectives say they are examining evidence indicating more than £1 million of suspected fraudulent activity, covering around 60 transactions and more than a million emails.

Three people arrested in July on suspicion of money laundering were also released on bail. One of them, former vice-chancellor George Holmes, was suspended last year over financial mismanagement and sacked in July.

Greater Manchester Police opened the fraud and bribery investigation a year ago after allegations published by independent outlet The Manchester Mill and a subsequent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, commissioned by the university's Fraud Response Panel. Police say they are working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service's Serious Economic Crime team. No charges have been brought and the allegations have not been proven in court.