Question paper leak: CID intensifies investigation, arrests 3 persons
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The CID intensified its investigation into the leak of HSLC (High School Leaving Certificate) general science question papers, leading to the arrest of three persons.
The CID arrested three of the 22 people, including students, that it had picked up from Guwahati, North Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sadia, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia. The three arrested are Jyotirekha Borgohain, centre in-charge of BDS Government Higher Secondary School for the Hearing Impaired, Kahilipara; Heramba Kumar Das, assistant centre in-charge of the same school; and Chitra Roy, a fourth grade casual worker of the school.
The CID produced them before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court today. The Court sent them to three-day police remand.
The CID already registered a case (3/2023 u/s 120 (B)/420/427 R/W Section 66 (b) of the IT Act) in connection with the leak of the question paper.
A CID team searched the SEBA (Board of Secondary Education, Assam) office today, besides questioning a few officials.
According to police sources, the question papers of the BDS Government Higher Secondary School for the Hearing Impaired were kept in the school’s cupboard at Dispur Police Station. “The responsibility of ascertaining the right number of question papers is that of the centre in-charge, and providing security is the responsibility of the police. The examination centre (BDS School) got 41 packets of general science question papers instead of the required 42. The CID detained the centre in-charge, the assistant centre in-charge, and two others yesterday regarding the missing packet of question papers. After interrogation, the CID arrested three of them today.”
According to CID sources, the question paper that had gone viral in the social media was handwritten. The CID sleuths are also examining the handwriting on the leaked question paper.
Meanwhile, the Inspector of Schools, Kamrup-M District Circle, relieved centre in-charge Jyotirekha Borgohain and assistant centre in-charge Heramba Kumar Das of their examination duties after their arrest.
DIBRUGARH CORRESPONDENT ADDS: The Dibrugarh police detained eight students and another person in connection with the general science question paper leak case, Speaking to the media today, Dibrugarh SP Shwetank Mishra said that most of the students detained by the police belong to Salt Brook Academy, Dibrugarh.
The SP further said that the leaked paper was forwarded by the detained students to other students in exchange for money ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000. Interestingly, while the leaked paper was from the Class 10 board exam, the detained students of Salt Brook Academy were in Class XI Commerce and Science.
SP Shwetank Mishra said, “The monetary transaction was done through digital payment. The investigation is still underway, and more people will be detained in the case.”
Meanwhile, the police also summoned Salt Brook Academy principal Ranjit Boruah and director Aswini Dowerah for questioning. Speaking to the media, the school authority said that they would fully cooperate with the investigators.
A CORRESPONDENT FROM LAKHIMPUR ADDS: A student, who had appeared in the HSLC examination at centre located at Jorkota in the Dhemaji district, told the media that a section of HSLC examinees had gotten the General Mathematics question paper before the examination commenced. The police are questioning the detainees in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts.
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