It was noticed that the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) chemistry question paper was leaked  last week. Four individuals have been arrested for aiding the question paper leak by the Bhoiwada police in Mumbai. The authorities detained the accused, Subodh Jha, Mahesh Gupta, Shilpa Tiwari and Mohammed Shaikh under the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and other Specified Examination Act along with the Information Technology Act. According to the police, on February 28, an HSC student was caught in the bathroom at a central Mumbai college with his mobile phone. This was just a few minutes before the chemistry paper was to begin. A professor snatched his phone and found the question paper. The student further agreed that he forwarded the same to a few other students.

One of the police officer was quoted in a TOI report saying, “We tracked the source of the paper leak to the accused and arrested them.” He further added, “We don’t want divulge any more information as it will cause panic among students and exams are still underway.” The student has not been arrested. When asked, the chief exam conductor of the central Mumbai college who filed the police complaint, was quoted on the same report saying, “At 11.45am, a student told us that another student had the question paper on his phone. We went to the exam hall and called the student out. We found images of the chemistry paper on his WhatsApp and informed the state board officials and police.” But the police claimed that the student got the question paper much before the exam started.

The HSC exams commenced from February 21 and will continue till March 20, 2018. As students are all busy preparing themselves for the exams, such incidents clearly distract them. Hence, they are recommended to concentrate on their preparations more and not get affected with such situations. Question paper leak has been increasing over the years because of which the Maharashtra Board this time even sealed them in bundles of 25. The papers are to be opened only minutes before the distribution but somehow the papers do seem to find a leeway.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 07, 2018 11:13 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).