Authorities in Raipur have arrested a professor and five students from a private college in Chhattisgarh's Durg district for their involvement in leaking a sealed question paper from Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV). The leak was uncovered on the morning of August 20, just hours before the scheduled BSc Agriculture second-year entomology exam.
Police revealed that the professor used an endoscopic camera to secretly capture the questions inside a sealed envelope. The swift investigation led to arrests within 36 hours of the initial complaint.
How the Leak Was Discovered Before the Exam
The entomology exam was set to take place from 10 am to 1 pm across 28 agriculture colleges affiliated with IGKV. However, early on the exam day, the Agriculture College and Research Centre at Kawardha received an email at 8:41 am claiming the question paper had been leaked. Additional officials received similar alerts by 8:54 am.
Students and their representatives also reported via WhatsApp that questions from the exam were circulating. This prompted IGKV's senior scientist and examination cell in-charge, Dr. N R Rangare, to file a complaint. The university registered a case under the Chhattisgarh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2008, and section 316 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which addresses criminal breach of trust.
Details of the Investigation and Arrests
- A dedicated team of over 100 police officers, including cybercrime and anti-crime units, launched an extensive probe.
- Cyber wing experts analyzed viral question papers, screenshots, social media posts, and traced the leak to student Anuj Minj from Durg.
- The alleged mastermind, Professor Yogesh Sonkesariya, along with four other students from Bharti Agriculture College in Durg, were arrested.
- The arrested students are Ajay Nayak (20), Tridev Patel (22), Nitin Pandey (22), Anuj Minj (22), and Aditya Sahu (20).
- Professor Sonkesariya, aged 38 and originally from Seoni district in Madhya Pradesh, has been employed at Bharti Agriculture College since 2019.
- He had been visiting the Agriculture College in Raipur for about a year to exchange answer sheets and collect question papers.
How the Leak Occurred and Its Aftermath
On August 17, after submitting answer sheets at the Agriculture College in Jora, Raipur, the professor allegedly took home the sealed entomology question paper envelope. Using a needle and a sharp tool, he made a tiny hole to insert an endoscopic camera, capturing images or videos of the questions inside.
He then reportedly sold the leaked paper for Rs 11,000 to Ajay Nayak and two other students. Nayak shared the paper with the other four students involved. Police recovered Rs 11,000 in cash, six mobile phones, a video recording device, and various cables and connectors during the arrests.
Two additional students suspected of involvement remain at large, with police actively searching for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is an endoscopic camera and how was it used in this case?
A: An endoscopic camera is a small, flexible device typically used in medical procedures to see inside the body. In this case, it was inserted through a tiny hole in the sealed envelope to capture images of the exam questions without opening it.
Q: What actions did IGKV take after the leak was reported?
A: IGKV cancelled the entomology exam scheduled for August 20 and filed a formal complaint with the police. They also coordinated with law enforcement to investigate and prevent further unfair means.
Q: Are there ongoing efforts to catch others involved?
A: Yes, police have identified two more students allegedly involved who are currently absconding. Efforts are underway to locate and arrest them.
