Question paper leak: Assam opposition demands Kerala to seek an explanation from Keltron

Guwahati: Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (Keltron) has been embroiled in a question paper leak scandal in Assam. The state owned electronic firm's credibility is being questioned after question paper, for Assam government's statewide written examination for police sub-inspector posts, surfaced on social media a day prior to the examination on September 20.

Assam police, which is probing the case, has so far 10 people in connection with the case.

Assam's Congress legislative party leader Debabrata Salkia said has sent a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to seek an explanation from Keltron in the regard.

"According to preliminary reports, the leak occurred because Keltron awarded sub-contracts to two local firms, namely Amain Tech Consultants Private Limited and M/s Akshay Tele Communications, which have dubious bonafides.

"While the first firm has already been involved in at least two question paper leak scandals involving other departments of the Government of Assam in recent times, the other firm is reported to be operating as a call centre and has no experience of conducting an important examination of this sort.

"As such, there is ample scope to believe that Keltron 'blindly awarded' the sub-contracts at the behest of at the behest of BJP leaders of Assam," the letter said.

The Congress leader said that there was a serious lapse on the part of the public enterprise for "failing to properly ascertain the track record of the sub-contractors".

"Further, the authorities of Keltron may be instructed to exercise extreme caution while conducting similar examinations in Assam in future, because leakage of question papers of recruitment-related examinations has become the norm in Assam under the present BJP-led state government," the letter said.