HSLC question paper leak: CID submits charge sheet

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The CID submitted the charge sheet against 41 accused in the HSLC (High School Leaving Certificate) question paper leak case before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Kamrup Metro.

The 41 accused comprise ten teachers, two attendants, 24 students, and five middlemen. According to sources, following an FIR filed by the SEBA (Board of Secondary Education, Assam) against the leak of general science question papers, the CID registered a case (3/2023) on March 13, 2023.

During the investigation, it came to light that Pranab Kumar Dutta, Headmaster and Centre-in-Charge of Lohit Khaboli High School, Lakhimpur, in connivance with Kumud Rajkhowa, teacher of Dafalakata Janajati High School, Lakhimpur, were the chief perpetrators of the conspiracy to leak the question paper of the HSLC Examination, 2023, with an ulterior motive to sell the paper for pecuniary benefits.

Both of them were arrested along with 39 others found to be involved in the conspiracy to leak and circulate the question paper.

During the search operation conducted at the residence of Pranab Kumar Dutta, half-burnt pieces of the general science question paper of the HSLC Examination, 2023, and ashes generated after burning the paper were recovered and subsequently sent to FSL, Guwahati. FSL opined that the recovered half-burnt pieces have similarities with the original question paper for the General Science subject.

Also, as disclosed by Pranab Kumar Dutta during custodial interrogation, the sheet containing the handwritten answers to the MCQ part of the General Science Q-paper of the HSLC Examination, 2023, was seized from his rented house after being led and shown by him in the presence of witnesses. The handwriting on this seized sheet matched that of Pranab Dutta, as opined by the handwriting expert of FSL, Guwahati.

The seized sheet of paper containing the handwritten answers to the MCQ part and questions, along with the serial numbers, also matched the original question paper (now cancelled) of the General Science subject of the HSLC Examination, 2023, as certified by SEBA.

Kumud Rajkhowa, teacher of Dafalakata Janajati High School, Lakhimpur, copied the questions of the General Science Paper on a sheet of paper, circulated it to known students through WhatsApp, and received money in exchange. A total of 47 mobiles that received the handwritten question papers were seized, and the deleted images were retrieved using cyber forensic tools. The handwriting in these WhatsApp images matched those of Kumud Rajkhowa and two students, namely Sourabjyoti Baruwati and Aditya Singh. The QR code and UPI transactions used for transferring the money to buy the question paper were unearthed.

Further, Jyoti Rekha Borgohain, Principal of Bhauri Devi Sarawgi H.S. School, Kahillipara, and Herambo Kumar Das, assistant teacher of BDS HS School, Kahilipara, along with Chittaranjan Roy (a casual worker of the school), were also charged with submitting a false report to the SEBA by suppressing the shortage of General Science question papers after the inspection.

After completion of the investigation, a total of 41 accused were charge-sheeted u/s 120B/420/409/218/201 IPC and Sec 66B of the IT Act for being part of the conspiracy to leak and circulate the question paper of the General Science subject of the HSLC Examination, 2023, along with 86 documents, the statements of 128 witnesses, and 48 material objects, before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Metro), Guwahati.

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