Daijiworld Media Network - Nagpur

Nagpur, Feb 23: Two persons have been arrested in Nagpur after the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Chemistry question paper was circulated in a WhatsApp group shortly before the examination began. Authorities, however, clarified that the incident does not amount to a question paper leak and no re-examination will be conducted.

According to police, one of the accused is associated with a small tuition centre, while the other was a member of the WhatsApp group in which the question paper was shared. Officials stated that the identities of the accused cannot be disclosed at this stage as efforts are underway to trace the original source of the circulation.

The incident came to light on February 18 in the Mankapur area when an invigilator at St Ursula’s College grew suspicious after a student spent nearly 20 minutes in the washroom during the Chemistry exam, which was scheduled to commence at 11 am.

Upon frisking, the student was found carrying a mobile phone, which is strictly prohibited inside the examination hall. A subsequent check of the device revealed that an image of the Chemistry question paper had been received in a WhatsApp group between 10.37 am and 10.40 am.

Further investigation revealed that the Physics question paper conducted on February 16 had also been shared earlier in the same group. Around 12 students were reportedly members of the group.

Officials said that although the student had seen the message notification during initial checking, she did not open the message and was unable to access the phone during the exam, thereby gaining no advantage.

Another student from the same group was later questioned, and her phone confirmed her membership in the group, prompting police to widen the probe.

Board authorities stated that the HSC examinations will continue as scheduled, as the circulation was limited to a single WhatsApp group involving only a few students.