A major racket, in which answer sheets of Mumbai University (MU) examinations were being smuggled out before being sent for evaluation so that examinees could answers questions they had left out during the exams, was busted by the city police. Eight university staffers were arrested from Kalina campus including clerks, peons and security guards.
According to Bhandup police, police received a tip-off about the major racket being run on Kalina campus. The informant claimed candidates were able to access their answer sheets before evaluation in exchange for a fee, and these answer sheets were returned after being modified.
While working on the tip off, police zeroed in on an answer sheet being taken back to MU after being modified, and picked up Manoj Shingade, 22, a student and a courier in the racket. He was found to be in possession of a engineering exam answer sheet bearing the date stamp of an examination held on May 11. Based on his interrogation, the police arrested three clerks, four peons and a security guard.
“A search of their residences revealed 92 answer sheets which the accused had sneaked out of MU so that students could fill in additional answers. The accused would charge anything between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 for this,” Senior PI Shripad Kale with Bhandup police station said.
Police said there are more people involved who act as middlemen, approach students to strike deals and convey relevant information to MU staffers so the required answer sheets can be slipped out for modification. Prima facie investigations indicate the racket has been going on for around two years.
The police will now be calling each of the 92 students whose answer sheets were found with the accused for questioning.
“The students willingly participated in the offence and are liable for action under the Maharashtra Protection of Malpractices at Universities and Other Specified Board Examination Act, and we will start calling each of them for inquiries from Monday,” Mr Kale said.
The accused would charge anything between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 from students
