The police are likely to verify call data of the students and their parents, who have been alleged to have used unethical means to obtain “good” marks.
Eamcet officials have provided the phone numbers, residential addresses and all other details of some students, who have obtained better ranks in Eamcet-2 when compared to Eamcet-1.
There are allegations that the students had left their coaching centres, where they had joined for preparing for Eamcet-2, a week before the examination date. The allegation being levelled against the students is that they had managed to obtain the questions of Eamcet paper which is why they preferred to leave the centre and prepare on their own.
Officials, while denying that the paper was leaked, said the call details of the students under the scanner would throw light on the alleged leakage of paper. Eamcet officials cited several reasons that might have contributed to their good performance in Eamcet-2 compared to the first examination.
A senior official told The Hindu that several students did not take the Eamcet-1 seriously after the government announced that it would be considered only for entry into agricultural, veterinary and horticulture courses and not the medical course. Moreover, Eamcet-2 was held after a gap of more than 30 days and these students could have prepared well. At the same time, officials admitted that luck also played some role in students gaining good ranks. Hence, the officials felt these factors could have contributed to their better ranks in Eamcet-2.
The officials rather ridiculed the allegations that the paper was leaked a week before the examination. “We ourselves don’t get to see the papers a week in advance. Then, how can the papers be leaked?” they said asking the parents and students not to believe rumours.
“In fact, two sets of papers are prepared and a set code for picking up the paper to be given to the student is picked up in front of the media just two hours before commencement of the examination. So where is the question of leakage?” one official asked.
Officials are also planning to file a defamation case against the media house which they said had published the story without verification.
Kadiam denies
Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari told media in Warangal district that there was no leakage of question paper of Eamcet-2. He condemned the media reports on leakage and said there was no such leakage as being alleged. However, he said he would conduct inquiry into the allegations.
Mr Srihari was speaking to media at Medaram where he took part in Haritha Haram programme. He said, “We will conduct enquiry with the education department, the health department and the CID. We will not spare anyone if found guilty.”
Meanwhile, students and parents in Warangal demanded that the government suspend web counselling scheduled to be held from July 25. It may be mentioned here that the Telangana Health Minister had denied any leakage and added that he would get the matter inquired to bring out the facts.
