In a major breakthrough, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), on Monday, arrested three persons allegedly involved in the second pre-university chemistry question paper leak.
Senior CID officials told The Hindu on condition of anonymity that the three arrested were responsible for the question paper leak on March 21 and suspect that they are part of a larger racket.
The names of the three arrested were given as Manjunath, a P.T. teacher at a private college in Vijayanagar and an LIC agent; Oblaraju, personal assistant of Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil; and Rudrappa, who works in the Public Works Department.
Sources believe that an official from the Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) first sold the chemistry question paper to Manjunath allegedly for a sum of Rs. 10 lakh. They said that Oblaraju, supposed associate of Manjunath, sold the paper. Rudrappa was among one of those who bought the paper from Oblaraju and circulated/ sold it further, they claim.
Though the CID has a list of suspects said to be involved in the paper leak racket, sources said that Manjunath’s statements during interrogation will be crucial in identifying the DPUE official who sold the paper to him, besides others involved in the racket.
Responding to the development, Dr. Patil said: "I am shocked. The law will take its own course."
