CBSE paper leak: 6 students detained, over 30 people questioned

A police complaint was registered today against suspects allegedly involved in the leak of the papers of the class 10 mathematics and class 12 economics examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Six students have been detained by the police in Chatra, Jharkhand for questioning on suspicion of being a part of the paper leak.

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Over 30 people have been questioned by police, most of whom either study or teach at coaching centres. Over a dozen mobile phones belonging to these people have also been seized.

Protests by the students outside the CBSE office in New Delhi continued today. "Students are suffering due to CBSE's mistakes," a protesting student said.

A Special Investigation Team has been formed to investigate the case and will be headedby Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar, Special Commissioner of Police RP Upadhyaya said.

Section 144 has been imposed near Human Resource Minister Prakash Javadekar's residence in the national capital's Kushak Road.

The SIT will conduct a press conference tomorrow.

"Seven college students, 11 school students and seven tutors have been questioned," said RP Upadhayay, Special CP (crime).

Sources told DNA that a few students caught hold of an insider who had access to question papers. Police officials are also scanning the roles of the printing press.

The college students who were questioned are mostly first-year students. They are from the same school as the students who received questions or met them at institutes.

The police is also trying to trace from where leaks were transmitted. Crime Branch sleuths have asked CBSE to explain the process of setting up papers, where they are stored and how they are distributed, DNA reported.

The protesting class 10 and 12 students yesterday alleged that the CBSE leaked question papers of Maths and Economics were being sold outside a Delhi school in Kailash Nagar for Rs 8,000 to Rs 18,000, media reports said.

The Delhi unit of the All India Democratic Students' Organisation yesterday demanded a high-level probe into the CBSE question paper leak case, and said it showed the board's "utter negligence" in conducting examinations fairly.

The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police yesterday questioned 25 people including 18 students and five tutors.The Delhi Police also conducted raids at a coaching centre in New Delhi's Rajinder Nagar.

In its complaint to the Delhi Police, the CBSE said that it received a fax on March 23 naming a person who ran a coaching institute in Sector 8, Rajinder Nagar as the person responsible for the exam paper leak.

The person, Vicky, is the main suspect in the paper leak, Delhi Police said.

"College students claimed they passed on questions received through WhatsApp just to help juniors. Message trail is being tracked. Vicky was first questioned on Monday, but no evidence was found against him and he was let off then," a police official said.

The CBSE officials are also being questioned in the paper leak case.

The CBSE also said that the fax it received mentioned two schools in the same area who were involved in the alleged exam paper leak.

Police was trying to establish the trail — who leaked the paper, how was it transmitted and who were the beneficiaries, special commissioner of police (crime branch) RP Upadhyaya said.

“We have no information that CBSE paper leak is pan-India, but if such a thing emerges, we will send teams outside Delhi,” Upadhyaya said.

The Delhi Police said on Thursday that they have registered two cases. The first case in connection with the leak of economics paper was lodged on Wednesday while the case pertaining to mathematics paper was lodged on Thursday, following a complaint by the regional director of CBSE.

The examination for Class 12 Economics paper was held on March 26 and the exam for Class 10 Maths was conducted on March 29 (Wednesday), hours before the CBSE announced its decision to re-conduct the two examinations.

CBSE Chairperson Anita Karwal said on Wednesday that the decision to hold re-examination of two subjects was taken in favour of the students and the new dates for the tests would be announced soon.

The remarks came a day after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in a circular, said that students would have to take re-test for Class 10 mathematics and Class 12 economics subjects.

We have taken the decision in favour of the students and in utmost fairness. Very soon we will announce the dates (for re-test). Any further decision would also be taken in the favour of the students, she said.

"Students don't have to worry about anything. We are with them," she added.

The Congress has demanded the sacking of the CBSE chairperson for the alleged lapse.

The opposition party also sought the resignation of Prakash Javadekar and a probe by a high court judge.

Javadekar termed the CBSE examination paper leak issue "unfortunate" and said the culprits would not go scot-free.

The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the issue "very seriously".

(With inputs from agencies)