Mumbai: Officials said that a case had been registered in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli after the use of the AI tool ChatGPT was allegedly uncovered in a mass cheating racket during the Class 12 board examinations. The incident was reported from JK Bomanwar High School, which functioned as the Charmoshi examination centre number 18.
According to authorities, the accused allegedly generated answers to board examination papers using ChatGPT and distributed them among students inside the examination hall.
They explained that once the sealed question papers were opened, a peon identified as Suraj Kelzarkar was said to have taken photographs of the papers and shared them on WhatsApp with a teacher, Mahendra Kirame.
Officials added that Kirame reportedly uploaded the papers to ChatGPT to obtain answers, which were then printed, photocopied and circulated to students with assistance from the peon, TNIE reported.
Officials further stated that the malpractice was believed to have occurred during the physics, chemistry and political science examinations. They said the issue came to their notice after the chief executive officer of the Gadchiroli Zilla Parishad received information about irregularities at the centre.
A raid was conducted on February 18, during which officials reportedly found several students giving identical answers in their answer scripts. The peon was subsequently questioned, and officials claimed that his mobile phone contained photographs of the question papers that had been forwarded to teachers, who allegedly used ChatGPT to generate answers and circulate them to candidates.
Based on the inquiry, the education department said an FIR had been registered against teacher Mahendra Kirame, Sushil Lanjewar, the examination centre in charge Suresh Burlewar, and peon Suraj Kelzarkar.
Authorities added that Kirame and Lanjewar were placed under suspension with immediate effect, and proceedings were initiated under the Maharashtra State Prevention of Cheating in Examinations Act, 1982.
In a separate development, officials in Nagpur said they were probing reports that question papers had been leaked on WhatsApp before the examinations, adding that orders had been issued for an inquiry into the matter.