In a serious breach of examination security, the question papers of Class XII Physics and Chemistry were allegedly circulated on WhatsApp before the scheduled exam time at St Ursula High School centre in Civil Lines. Following the discovery, Sadar Police have registered a case against an unknown person under Section 6 of the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examinations Act, 1982.

 

According to officials, the incident occurred on Wednesday while the Chemistry paper was underway. A supervising teacher grew suspicious after noticing a girl student repeatedly asking to go to the toilet. When her movements appeared unusual, the teacher checked her and seized her smartphone. During the inspection, the supervisor reportedly found that the Chemistry question paper had already been shared on a WhatsApp group before the exam started. Possible answers also were circulating in the same group.

 

The Centre Head, immediately, alerted the police. Based on the first student’s statement, another student also was questioned. Preliminary findings suggest that a person connected with a private coaching or tutoring service may have supplied the paper in exchange for money. Authorities found that the Chemistry question paper dated February 18, and parts of the Physics paper dated February 16, were present on a student’s mobile phone before the examination began. Education Officer (Secondary) of Zilla Parishad, Nagpur, Anil Dahiphale, in his report stated that the Divisional Chairman of the Nagpur Divisional Board had alerted officials through a telephone message after the suspicious material surfaced. The student’s mobile phone had already been taken into custody by Senior Police Inspector Amol Deshmukh of Sadar Police Station (PS). Following the instructions, Dahiphale along with Extension Officer Ramesh Harde visited the police station and physically seized two mobile phones connected with the case.

 

During inspection, the officials found the Chemistry question paper dated February 18 in WhatsApp messages on both devices. A joint verification was then conducted by Education Officer Anil Dahiphale, Deputy Education Officer Praveen Kamble and Deputy Education Officer Kiran Chinkure. Their comparison confirmed that the question paper circulating on WhatsApp matched the original paper distributed to students at the examination centre. Investigators found that on February 18, the question paper was shared on a WhatsApp group of examinee.

 

The message was allegedly sent from mobile number 9579874939 at 10.37 am, nearly 23 minutes before the scheduled exam time of 11 am. Officials noted that Section A of the paper was clearly visible and identical to the official question paper. The probe further revealed that portions of the Physics question paper conducted on February 16 also were transmitted earlier from the same mobile number to the student’s phone number. Police officials said the timing of the messages strongly suggests unauthorised access and circulation of confidential examination material. “Prima facie, it appears to be a case of malpractice involving electronic transmission of question papers.

 

We are tracing the source of the mobile number used to circulate the content,” a senior officer from Sadar PS said. The Divisional Secretary of the Nagpur Divisional Board had earlier directed that the matter be formally reported to police after similarities were confirmed between the leaked content and the original paper. Sadar Police have begun a technical investigation and are expected to seek call detail records and WhatsApp data to identify the person behind mobile number 9579874939. Officials have not ruled out the possibility of a larger network.