Top official arrested in Uttar Pradesh exam leak probe

Lucknow: A secretary of the Exam Regulatory Authority in Uttar Pradesh has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police's Special Task Force (STF) after extended questioning in the case of a question paper leak during the Teacher's Eligibility Test (TET) held in the state. Police allege that Sanjay Kumar Upadhyay was a key figure in leaking the question papers to the public.

Upadhyay was already under suspension for violating the smooth and fair conduct of exams and for not ensuring fair practise.

Another STF officer said another accused told investigators that Upadhyay issued an order to his company on October 26 for printing the question papers. He added the two were found to have allegedly violated the secrecy protocol while printing the papers. The other accused is Rai Anoop Prasad, the director of a Delhi-based printing press, who was earlier arrested on Tuesday over his alleged involvement in the matter.

Last Saturday, the UP Police arrested 29 people from five districts in connection with the case and recovered question papers from them, after which the UP government cancelled the eligibility test on Sunday. The exam is a must for teachers wishing to be eligible to teach under state board-affiliated schools.

Three people, identified as Dharmendra, Manish, and Ravi were arrested under suspicion of being involved in the matter said Superintendent of Police Sukirti Madhav Mishra. Another accused is absconding and police said a search is on to nab him. A car, 50 photocopies of the question paper, and Rs 17,000 were recovered from the three accused who had been previously involved in exam-cheating activities they said.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the culprits will be booked under the National Security Act and Gangster Act. He also ordered reconvening of the exam within a month.