Assistant peon, four ex-students arrested in IGNOU question paper leak case

The probe initially made little progress as investigators were unable to get details from WhatsApp. “We had to question each person who received the paper on WhatsApp,” said DCP (Crime) Bhisham Singh.

Crime Branch officials said they questioned more than 500 people during the investigation and later used payment gateway details to narrow down the search. “We sent teams to Bengaluru,

UP, Delhi and finally Bokaro. Simultaneously, another team headed by an inspector-rank officer conducted the call data analysis,” said a police officer.

Police said Shankar worked at the Bokaro study centre for 13 years and had the keys to the almirah where the question papers were stored. According to officers, he used to pull out the papers while sorting them at the facility and replace them the next day after taking pictures.

“Sometimes, he would turn up early in the morning before the others and open sealed envelopes of question papers using a pair of scissors. After clicking pictures of the question papers, he would use glue to re-seal the envelope in such a way that raised no doubts,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) A K Singla.

The question papers of IGNOU exams are sent via speed post from the Bokaro study centre to Delhi.

Police said Shankar, who had complete access to the supervisor’s office, has been leaking IGNOU question papers since 2016.