The Mumbai's crime branch unit XI arrested a school principal for allegedly supplying the SSC algebra paper to a police head constable, Uday Kadam, attached with the Charkop police station. Kadam's son was appearing for his SSC exams. Two days ago, the crime branch had also arrested Kadam for taking the paper from the principal in order to help his son.
The arrested principal has been identified as Mangesh Laad, who had been working with Priyadarshani Vidyamandir since the past 23 years. Laad lives in Borivali (west) with his family. He was produced in the court on Saturday and was remanded in police custody till April 9.
According to the police, the incident occurred on March 12, when Kadam's son was caught copying at YB Chavan School in Kandivli (W). The incident was brought to the notice of the Charkop police. But later, the case was handed over to the crime branch for investigation.
"Kadam was posted on bandobast duty during exams, during which he came in contact with Laad and approached him for the algebra question paper for his son" said an officer.
Laad was in charge of the exam centre of three schools — Oxford Public School, Sanskar Vidyalaya and Priyadarshani Vidyamandir — all in Charkop. "As per the procedure, the centre in-charge is responsible for collecting the original papers from the main centre and then distributing it to their centre around 30 minutes before the exams are to begin," the officer added.
The officer further said that as soon as Laad collected the original paper from the main exam centre, he went to Priyadarshani Vidyamandir. "On March 12, Kadam along with his son went to Priyadarshini Vidyamandir around 10am. There, he met Laad, took the paper from him and gave it to his son," said assistant police inspector M Harpude of the crime branch.
Kadam's son, who was carrying notes from his coaching class, identified the answers to the questions on the paper, and carried chits of the same along with him to the exam centre. "Kadam also went to YB Chavan School, his son's exam centre, and asked the class supervisor to allow his son to copy from the chits. The supervisor later caught Kadam's son red-handed while he was copying and informed the school authorities," said Harpude.
He added, "We are inquiring whether Laad leaked the paper for financial benefit or was under any pressure." Laad was arrested under relevant sections of Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examinations Act of 1982. He has also been booked under section 34 of IPC.
"Since the matter is now with the crime branch, we will not be investigating the role of the principal until we receive the report from the police. However, the student will be called to the board office next week for inquiry," said Laxmikant Pande, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education's Mumbai division. The student could possibly be banned from appearing for the exam for up to five years.
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