School Education Minister C. Ve Shanmugam on Saturday said he has ordered an inquiry into a complaint of impersonation of Puducherry Minister for Transport P. M. L. Kalyanasundaram, who also holds the Education portfolio, during the supplementary exam for Class X in a private school at Jayapuram in Tindivanam a few days ago.
Mr Shanmugam told The Hindu that an inquiry into the episode had been ordered after seizing the answer script of the subject test on September 29, allegedly written by an impersonator.
'Decision only after report'
“The hall ticket is in the name of the Minister (Mr Kalyanasundaram) and he has given a temporary address in Tindivanam. However, the candidate was marked absent on September 30, when another examination was held. It requires a thorough probe. We can come to a conclusion after going through the report,” he said.
According to sources in the Education Department, the government had asked the Tindivanam District Educational Officer to give a report to the School Education Department detailing what actually happened. Reportedly, handwriting experts are to be engaged to look into the answer scripts of the candidate.
Denies charge
Denying that he had committed any fraud, Mr Kalyanasundaram said he appeared for the ongoing supplementary exam for Class X but could not make it on Friday as he had to attend a meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh at Raj Nivas.
“I quit studies in 1991 to help my family. After becoming a Minister I decided to complete Class X and so registered for the exam. I have passed all other subjects except for science and social science in 1991 itself,” he told The Hindu .
Terming the allegation as a political conspiracy, the Minister said he was ready to face any “impartial probe.”
Congress workers arrested
Meanwhile, the North police on Saturday arrested 15 Congress workers for trying to stage a protest at Kalapet, which he represents in the Territorial Assembly, demanding resignation of the Minister following the allegation.
