Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Apr 3: Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing the PUC chemistry examinations papers leak issue, has made breakthroughs in its investigations, it is learnt.

DIG of CID Sonia Narang on Saturday said that more than 100 people have been subjected to interrogations so far and it has been established prima facie that some students, their parents and agents have been involved with the question paper leak. Question papers were sold for Rs 3,000 in many places and in some cases they were sold even for Rs 4,000, she said.

The CID had arrested two persons within a matter of few hours in connection with the distribution of question papers. More details will emerge from their interrogations, it is believed.

The chemistry examination which was scheduled to be held on March 21 was postponed to March 31 as the question paper was leaked. Then on March 31, chemistry question paper was leaked again. There was a demand for the resignation of Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar from many quarters. He did not resign and only said that he will tender his resignation if the re-examination paper leaked again. But the state government on April 1 transferred Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) director Pallavi Akurathi, a day after the question paper leak.

Now the chemistry examination has been rescheduled to be held on April 12. Students and parents protested for two days throughout the state condemning the paper leak.

Meanwhile chief minister Siddaramaiah also made a statement on Saturday that the state government has taken the question paper leak issue seriously and good progress has been made in the investigations so far.

On Saturday the investigation went on with brisk pace. Hundreds of students and their parents were interrogated and in some cases mobile phones were seized. CID police personnel have moved to other parts of the state also for further investigations after obtaining relevant information.

Investigations at PU Board office at Malleswaram in city continued in which 40 suspended officials were interrogated. Now transferred director DPUE Pallavi Akurathi was present during the interrogations.

"Easy exams. Take it easy"

Dr Ramegowda who took over as the director of DPUE on Saturday said that the chemistry examination to be held on April 12 will be easier and students should not worry about the exam. “It will be easy for students." he told the reporters at his office at Malleswaram soon after he took over as director.

Minister Kimmane Ratnakar on Saturday said that tougher measures and ‘best methods’ have been taken this time so that there will not be any leak of chemistry paper again. Ratnakar had a meeting with concerned officials at the Vidhana Soudha before that. The meeting lasted for three hours.