Bengaluru, Apr 11 (DHNS): Preparations for Tuesday’s re-exam of the II PU Chemistry paper are in full swing. Top officials have kept the steps they have taken to prevent another leak under wraps.

An official with the Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) said the papers have already been dispatched and that they would be at the district treasuries on Monday.

“The government has taken a number of measures to ensure that the exam goes on smoothly. A team of IAS officers will also be dispatched to monitor the exams along with PU officials. Good arrangements have been made. CCTVs will be extensively used this time” he said.

There are reports that unlike in previous years, numerous sets of question papers have also been prepared to avert another leak. The question paper was also prepared in great secrecy.

The three-man committee including PU board director Ramegowda and Sarva Shikasha Abhiyan (SSA) state project director P C Jaffer, specifically appointed to ensure a successful re-examination, will ensure that end-to-end issues are taken care of. Principal Secretary Ajay Seth and Ramegowda refused to give definite responses to queries on preparations. Attempts to reach Jaffer failed. Primary and Secondary and Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar said precautions to conduct the exam smoothly are being taken and he also talked about a complete overhaul of the exams in the coming years.

Involvement of cops suspected
 

The investigation into the leak of the II PU Chemistry question paper has taken a new turn with Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers suspecting the possibility of the involvement of a few police officers.

“We were convinced about the involvement of some PU Board insiders, a few teachers and those who had leaked the question papers in the past. Initially, we did not suspect the involvement of police officers. But interrogation carried out so far, including the details of the mobile phone calls, and interactions we had with the students, suggest the involvement of some police officials as well,” an officer involved in the investigation told Deccan Herald.

The CID sleuths said that there are reports that the children of a few police officers appeared for the II PU examinations and the police ensured that their children also got the questions papers in advance. However, a detailed probe only will bring out the truth, the officer said. Meanwhile, the CID sleuths intensified the interrogation of Kiran and Dayananda, whom they had picked up on Saturday.

The duo claimed that they were not connected with the question paper leak. They knew the main suspect Shivakumaraiah, who is at large, and his family, as they all belonged to the same place. They often met at his farm house and spent time. They maintained distance after Shivakumaraiah and his son’s names were linked to the question paper leak in 2009, the duo told the police.

The CID officials suspect that the duo could have cooked up stories as the mobile phone details indicated that they were in constant touch with Shivakumaraiah.

CID to file objections

The CID has decided to file objections to the anticipatory bail application of the key suspect Shivakumaraiah, who is at large.

Shivakumaraiah has moved the court seeking advance bail.
The bail application will come up for hearing on Monday in the sessions court here, according to sources.