Paper leak case gets bizarre, boy says dad, a cop, gave it to him

A day after a student was caught with a copy of the Math part-I question paper while giving his SSC exam on Tuesday, sparking off speculation that the paper was leaked to him, a bizarre series of events followed.

It was revealed that the boy, who is the son of a policeman, had three sheets of paper scribbled with answers to the questions. These sheets happened to be police stationery used to record details of accused persons. On the blank side were written the answers to the questions.

Cheat sheets: The sheets with algebra answers scribbled on it; the sheets used are police stationery, meant to jot down information of the accused and offenders

According to the report made by Y B Chavan School in Kandivli, where the student was caught cheating, he initially said in his statement to the school principal, who is also the centre conductor, that his father helped him get the question paper. A three-member inquiry committee has been formed to look into the matter.

Sources from the State Board claimed that the report, which has been sent to the board chairman by principal S Kumbhar, states that the boy received set ‘C' of the Mathematics paper-I (Algebra - 40 marks) at 10.50 am, 10 minutes before the exam commenced.

The student had entered the exam centre more than 15 minutes late. He was caught at 12.35 pm with the chits as well as a copy of the question paper, other than the one given to him in the exam hall, the report states. When officials questioned him after the exam got over at 1 pm, he said he got the paper from his father, but later, in the written statement, he claimed he got it for Rs 500 from some unknown youngsters near Borivli station on Tuesday at 10.50 am, the report states.

After acquiring the paper, he went home in Borivli to write the answers to the questions, thus reaching the exam centre 15 minutes late.

Reliable sources from the board said, "After the paper got over at 1 pm, the boy told the principal he got the paper from his father. The Kandivli police somehow got to know and came to the school to speak to the boy, without even being called. After they left, the boy changed his statement. His father was waiting outside the centre."

An FIR was lodged in Kandivli police station under the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices in University, Board and Other Examinations Act, 1982. The boy was produced in Borivli court yesterday, and an FIR copy was given to the Board divisional office. The report by the inquiry committee will be ready by Saturday, officials said.

Laxmikant Pande, chairman, Mumbai Divisional Board, said, "After enquiring with the center conductor S Kumbhar, we feel the paper was leaked only to that particular student. In his statement to the principal, he claimed his father had given it to him. Later, in his written statement, he claimed some friends gave it to him."

DCP (Zone XI) Balsingh Rajput, said, "Out of fear, the boy has given varying statements to the police, first claiming he got the paper from his father - a policeman - then stating he got it from some friends, and then citing his coaching classes. We are investigating all three suspects. We will question his father. The police stationery is not original; the sheets are photocopies. We think even the paper is a photocopy. We will find out in which printing press it was printed, to establish whether it is an original."