GUWAHATI: In a significant turn of events, Assam Police detained Mahbubul Hoque, the Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), from his residence in Guwahati’s Ghoramara on Saturday morning.
His detention was carried out by a joint operation involving officers from Panbazar Police and the Special Task Force (STF) of the Assam Police. The arrest has sparked concerns regarding the integrity of the examination system in the region.
Hoque has been arrested in relation to charges of accepting money to allow unfair means in the CBSE Class 12 Physics exam, as per reports. The probe has shown that malpractice was allegedly carried out at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Assam's Sribhumi district, where 274 students sat for the exam.
Of these, 45 were normal students of the school, and 214 were students of the ERD Group, an educational institution which was reportedly involved in the scam. Reports suggest that there were arrangements to assist ERD Group students in cheating in the exam in return for financial rewards.
When the promised support was not offered, there was pandemonium at the examination center, finally revealing the malpractice. This has caused severe doubts regarding the honesty of the examination process and the possible involvement of powerful personalities in such illegal activities.
In the wake of complaints about the involvement of some institutions in the malpractice, authorities immediately ordered an investigation.
ALSO READ:
ALSO WATCH: