Professor Arrested for Leaking Exam Paper in Chhattisgarh

A shocking incident of exam paper leak has come to light in Chhattisgarh, where a professor and five others were arrested for their alleged involvement. The accused professor, Yogesh Sonkesariya, is a 38-year-old faculty member at Bharti Agriculture College in Durg.

According to the police, Sonkesariya collected the question papers from the Agricultural College at Jora, Raipur, on August 17, while submitting answer sheets from his college. Instead of handing over the Entomology paper to his college authorities, he allegedly took it home.

The professor then bought a small endoscope camera and made a tiny hole in the sealed envelope using a needle. He used the camera to view and copy around 15 questions from the paper. A day before the examination, he allegedly sold the paper to three students for ₹11,000.

One of the students, Ajay Nayak, allegedly shared the paper with four other students - Tridev Patel, Nitin Pandey, Anuj Minj, and Aditya Sahu. The second-year B.Sc. Agriculture Entomology examination was cancelled on August 20 after the university received information that questions were circulating before the test.

The examination was scheduled from 10 am to 1 pm at 28 agriculture colleges affiliated with Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV). Around 1,200 students were expected to appear for the examination. The university has announced a re-examination.

The police arrested the accused within 36 hours of receiving the complaint. They traced the suspects by examining the leaked paper, screenshots, photographs, messages, social media posts, and other digital evidence. The police seized ₹11,000 in cash, six mobile phones, a video-recording device, cables, a mobile connector, a needle, a sharp instrument, a notebook, and adhesive.

Following the leak, the university changed its examination procedure. The question paper for the next examination was sent by email and could be accessed only through a One-Time Password (OTP) shortly before the exam. An FIR has been registered under Sections 4, 5, and 10 of the Chhattisgarh Public Examination Act, 2008, and Section 316 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The police are continuing to question the arrested accused and are searching for two other suspects who are currently absconding. The incident highlights the need for stricter measures to prevent exam paper leaks and ensure the integrity of the examination process.

The cancellation of the examination has caused inconvenience to around 1,200 students who were expected to appear for the test. The university's decision to re-conduct the examination is a welcome step, but it also raises questions about the effectiveness of the existing examination system.

In conclusion, the arrest of the professor and five others in connection with the exam paper leak is a significant development. It underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of the examination process and ensuring that students are not unfairly disadvantaged by such incidents.

The incident also serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and strict measures to prevent such leaks in the future. The university's decision to change its examination procedure is a step in the right direction, and it is hoped that such incidents will not recur in the future.