In a fresh development in the leak of the Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) Class XII economics paper, the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Saturday arrested three staff members of a school in Himachal Pradesh.
The questioning of the arrested — Rakesh Kumar, Amit Sharma and Ashok Kumar, all from DAV Centenary Public School in Himachal Pradesh’s Una — revealed that the Class XII economics paper was leaked on March 23, three days before the exam date, in Una town, and it was shared on at least 40 WhatsApp groups, police said.
Confirming the arrests, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Alok Kumar told The Pioneer that Rakesh Kumar is a PGT economics teacher at the DAV school while Amit and Ashok worked at the school as clerk and peon respectively. Rakesh was the centre superintendent of Jawahar Navodaya Public School in Una, where the CBSE exams were being held, he added.
Meanwhile, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) RP Upadhayay said, “On March 23, three days before the economics paper exam, Rakesh collected bundles of computer science paper, the exam for which was due that day, from the strongroom of Union Bank in Una. He also picked up a bundle of economics paper.”
Explaining how the economics paper was circulated, the officer said, “While Rakesh took computer science paper bundle to Jawahar Navodaya, he handed over the economics paper bundle to his colleagues — Amit and Ashok.”
The duo took out a copy of the economics paper and sent it to Rakesh Kumar via WhatsApp messaging application. Rakesh Kumar then got it hand written by a student whom he tutored.
“The hand-written copy was sent by Rakesh to his relative in Chandigarh, whose son was appearing for Class XII examination. That way, the hand-written copy got leaked on WhatsApp groups,” the police officer said.
later the three accused deleted the WhatsApp messages and destroyed the hand-written copy to hide digital footprints.
“Investigation so far has revealed that the hand-written copy was available on 40 WhatsApp groups. At least 30-40 students got it but a lot of trail is yet to be covered,” said Upadhayay.
“The motive for paper leakage so far has emerged that Rakesh wanted to help his student who was weak in economics. He also helped his relative. No money angle has come up so far, but investigation is on to determine if the accused leaked any other papers,” the officer added.
The leak was exposed after an envelope containing four images of the hand-written economics paper was delivered to CBSE Headquarters in Delhi on the evening of the scheduled date of the exam on March 26.
Police said that the three were caught by the teams of the Delhi Police Crime Branch late on Friday after which they were brought to Delhi. Post questioning, the three have been arrested.
Police said that their teams are still questioning the student who had copied the economics paper and have not given a clean chit to him yet.
“We are trying to establish whether the Class X paper too was leaked by the same persons who have been arrested from Una,” police added.
last Sunday, the Delhi Police had made its first breakthrough in the case with the arrest of two school Rishabh and Rohit, both teachers at the Mother Khajani Convent School in Bawana, and Tauquir, who runs a coaching centre in Outer Delhi’s Bawana area.
Following the arrest, Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry had suspended a CBSE official for laxity in supervising the examination centre from where economics paper was allegedly leaked and a formal enquiry was initiated in the matter.
On March 30, CBSE announced it would re-conduct the Class 12 economics exam throughout the country on April 25.
The police have registered two cases in connection with the matter.
The first case relating to the leak of economics paper was filed on March 27, while the other pertaining to the leak of mathematics paper was lodged on March 28.