THE fresh question-paper leak controversy at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur, took a decisive turn on Wednesday after the university formally approached Telibandha Police seeking investigation into the alleged leak of its BSc Agriculture first-year Fundamentals of Genetics examination. The APB-5121 (Fundamentals of Genetics) second-semester examination was conducted across all 28 agricultural colleges affiliated with IGKV from 10 am to 1 pm on August 19. The controversy erupted following claims that the question paper had circulated digitally hours before the examination and that questions subsequently asked allegedly matched the purported leaked material. In an official communication, No 6045 dated August 26, addressed to the Station House Officer, Telibandha Police Station, the university said it received a PDF containing purported questions and answers through its Information and Public Relations Officer after reports about the alleged leak surfaced. Crucially, IGKV constituted a five-member committee and examined envelopes containing question papers sent to Bharti Agricultural College and subsequently returned to the university. The committee’s preliminary examination found apparent tampering with the envelope containing the APB-5121 question paper.

 

According to IGKV, the suspected tampering appeared similar to the modus operandi earlier uncovered by police while investigating the previous paper leak. The university has consequently requested Telibandha Police to incorporate the fresh episode into the investigation already underway and examine it as part of the continuing probe. IGKV submitted supporting material to police, including the published report concerning the allegation, a copy of the purported leaked question-answer PDF circulated through WhatsApp, a copy of the original APB-5121 question paper and the five-member committee’s constitution order. The development follows the earlier BSc second-year Entomology paper leak case in which six persons, including Bharti Agriculture College professor Yogesh Sonkesariya, were arrested. Police had alleged that Sonkesariya secretly recorded the paper and sold it for Rs 11,000, while students subsequently circulated it through social media. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has already asserted that the investigation into the paper leak controversy would be pursued firmly and that “no one will be spared.”