RAIPUR: Raipur Police have arrested six people, including a college professor and five students, in connection with the Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV) question paper leak within 36 hours of receiving the complaint.
The leaked paper was for the B.Sc. second-year Entomology examination. A team of around 100 personnel from Telibandha police station, with technical assistance from the Cyber Cell, traced the digital trail and arrested the suspects, police said.
Police identified Yogesh Sonkesariya, a professor at Bharti Agriculture College in Durg, as the alleged mastermind. He had been responsible for transporting question papers and submitting answer sheets to and from the university for the past year.
According to the investigation, Sonkesariya took the sealed envelope containing the question paper to his residence on August 17. Using a needle, a poker tool and a Rs 2,500 endoscopy camera, he allegedly made a small hole in the packaging and recorded the paper without breaking the official seal.
Police said Sonkesariya later sold the leaked paper to students at his college for Rs 11,000. The paper was subsequently circulated on social media, following which the university cancelled the examination and ordered an inquiry.
Six accused, including the professor and five students, are in custody, while police are searching for two other suspects who are absconding. Police are also examining how the security protocols were breached and will question the college principal and dean.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has taken serious note of the leak and said there would be no compromise on the integrity, transparency and credibility of examinations. He warned that strict action would be taken against those attempting to manipulate the examination system or jeopardise students' futures.
Following the Chief Minister's directions, the university has formed a five-member inquiry committee to conduct a detailed probe.
The Entomology examination was held on August 20, with around 1,200 students from 27 agricultural colleges scheduled to appear. After the question paper surfaced on social media before the examination, the university cancelled the test. The examination will be conducted again in the first week of September.