AU exam papers leaked for friend's daughter

VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra University officials suspended assistant registrar AVN Rayudu after his alleged involvement in the leakage of mathematics paper-II of first year engineering examination came to light.

A statement from the university said that in a written confession, Rayudu had admitted that he had deliberately leaked the question papers to help the daughter of his friend.

Eight sets of four question papers--Mathematics-I, II, physics and English-- were leaked. The officials came to know about the question paper leak while the Math-II examination was going on.

They cancelled the exam and immediately changed the question sets for physics and English. It is learnt that the university is yet to take a decision on the Mathematics-I.

The West Godavari police arrested two engineering students and also took three others into custody. While the police said that they were investigating further to ascertain the involvement of more persons in the case, the university authorities said that their internal probe revealed the involvement of Rayudu only, and that the authorities would not hesitate to initiate action if more persons are found guilty in the police investigation.

The mathematics paper-II of the first year engineering examinations being held in engineering colleges, affiliated to Andhra University, is said to have been leaked in Eluru and Bhimavaram in West Godavari district on May 16.

A couple of students were caught with paper slips containing answers to most of the questions that appeared in the question paper at CR Reddy Engineering College in Eluru on May 16. Further, a copy of the question paper also appeared in a vernacular daily at Bhimavaram.

The university officials immediately cancelled the exam. It will be held on a fresh date after completion of all the remaining exams on May 24.

Complaints were lodged at Eluru and also Three Town police station in Visakhapatnam following which the police took up investigation.

They arrested two engineering students, Phanindra of Pedakadimi village of Eluru rural mandal and Sai Pavan of Eluru town on Saturday. They were arrested by Eluru Three Town sub-inspector Srinivasa Rao. Three others are also said to be in the police custody in connection with the case but there is no official confirmation.

The university authorities also ordered an internal inquiry to plug the loopholes and caught assistant registrar AVN Rayudu of Confidential Section of the Examinations branch.

The investigation covered all stages right from the preparation of the question paper in Visakhapatnam to opening of packed question papers at exam centres.

'Investigations revealed that the paper was leaked at the highest level, by Rayudu, who was in-charge of the exam papers ,' AU registrar K Rama Mohana Rao said.