KOCHI/KOZHIKODE: Scripting a new chapter of shame in the history of Kerala police, a top officer of the force was caught cheating while appearing for the LLM (Master of Laws) examination of the MG University at St Paul’s College in Kochi on Monday.
T J Jose, Inspector General (IG) of Police, Thrissur Range, was expelled from the examination hall after he was found copying from bits of paper by the invigilator. Though Jose denied the allegation, he has been asked to proceed on leave, said Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. The Home Minister has also sought a report on the issue from North Zone ADGP N Shanker Reddy. “The
department has directed the IG to go on leave. Police Academy IG Suresh Raj Purohit has been asked to take charge,” said Chennithala.
V J Peter, vice principal, St Paul’s College, Kalamassery, said the invigilator in charge of the exam caught the top cop red-handed and handed him over to the authorities. The invigilator was unaware that the candidate was an IG-rank police officer, he said.
However, the police officer managed to seize the confiscated bits of paper from the invigilator after he was ousted from the hall following the recommendation of the officer in-charge of the examination, said Peter. Asked whether he would be allowed to write the LLM examination of Mahatma Gandhi University on Tuesday, Peter said, “We have written to the Examination Controller of the MG University on the incident. The decision on barring him from appearing again would be made based on the report of Controller.”
Jose, however, said no material has been seized from him as alleged. “No one expelled me from the exam hall. I wrote the exam and went out of the classroom only after completing it. If they seized any incriminating material from me as alleged, they should show them to the authorities. I suspect it’s part of a conspiracy to malign my reputation and thereby the Kerala police,” Jose said.