Mumbai school principal held for leaking SSC exam paper

Police arrest 47-year-old principal of a school for leaking out SSC board exam Algebra question paper to a candidate. The boy's father, a police constable, is already behind bars

Mangesh Namdev Laad allegedly leaked the question paper

The city Crime Branch on Friday arrested Mangesh Namdev Laad, the principal of Kandivli's Priyadarshini Vidyamandir School, for his alleged role regards in the SSC Board Algebra paper leak case. The 47-year-old was produced before the court on Saturday afternoon and remanded to custody.

The cops had earlier arrested constable Uday Kadam, the father of the 16-year-old boy who was caught at the exam centre with a leaked question papers - the finding which set the police hot on the trail of the real culprits.

The case dates back to March 12 when the boy was caught copying at Kandivli's YB Chavan School during the exams. The boy, who is a private candidate was frisked and a copy of the Algebra question paper set was found on him. Soon after, he was handed over to the Kandivli police station.

On Saturday, board officials told sunday mid-day that they would let the law take its own course. Laxmikant Pande, chairman of the Mumbai divisional board said, “The boy was a repeat candidate. The police have not informed us of any arrests so far.”

But a police official from Crime Branch unit XI confirmed the news. “Mangesh Namdev Laad, 47 principal of Kandivali’s Priyadarshini Vidyamandir School was arrested on Friday with regards to the paper leak case. He was produced before court on Saturday,” he said.

According to the report filed by YB Chavan School authorities, he initially told the school principal that his father helped him procure the question paper, but later, in the written statement, he claimed he bought it for R500 from an unknown person near Borivli station.

A three-member inquiry committee is looking into the matter as well. 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, a full 10 minutes before the exam commenced.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!