The leak is tip of the iceberg, says police

Suspects may be part of a larger network

PUNE: Police investigating the University of Pune (UoP) question paper leak suspect that this could be just the tip-of-the-iceberg.

“We suspect an organised racket behind the paper leak,” assistant commissioner of police Sangramsinh Nishandar said while speaking to DNA.

Adding to the police's suspicion is a letter received by the UoP's examination department just two days back about a possible paper leak. Moreover, sources who tipped-off DNA said the same gang may be involved in leaking of other examination papers of the UoP too. “Most of the students arrested are operating as agents, working at the third or fourth tier,” said Nishandar, explaining that investigations would also reveal if the same group is involved with leaking papers of other examinations.

With Pune having emerged as a major centre of education, a number of malpractices relating to education have been reported here from time to time. These include back-door admissions organised by agents against huge payments and exam paper leaks among others. In 2003, the IIM Common Admission Test (CAT) was cancelled after a gang of student-operators selling CAT papers was busted by the Pune police. In the latest case, the police are trying to ascertain whether the Mathematics & Statistics paper was leaked from the university's examination department or the 186 examination centres.

Leaders of political parties representing the students' wing, Pradeep Deshmukh and Ajay Shinde said the authorities are turning a blind eye to this emerging racket.