Uttar Pradesh: No tampering of English paper’s packets in Ballia, district magistrate claimed

LUCKNOW: Barely hours after UP Board’s Class 12 English paper leak in Ballia on March 30 triggered a massive crackdown by the state machinery, a letter written by the department head of secondary education mentions that there was no tampering of question paper's packets at 210 centres in Ballia — the epicentre of the leak.
In her letter, additional chief secretary, secondary education, Aradhana Shukla, attributed the fact-check in Ballia to its DM Indra Vikram Singh, who claimed during a video conference with the chief secretary on the same day (March 30) that there was no tampering of question papers' packets in Ballia.
TOI has accessed this letter (dated March 30), written to DMs of the remaining 23 districts where the paper was cancelled, to check whether any tampering happened in their districts as 'it was possible that the leaked paper series was received in Ballia from other districts via WhatsApp or other mediums'.
The letter elaborates that the English paper cancellation order was given at 12:30pm, at least one and a half hours before the scheduled exam, and the paper bundles are officially opened 15 minutes before the exam.
“"It is clear that no packets of question papers were opened in Ballia district,” the letter says.
Talking to TOI, Aradhana Shukla said, “We have received investigation reports from 23 districts and found no evidence of tampering with question papers. Now, we are compiling a final report. Elaborate arrangements, including tamper-proof packets safeguard against paper leaks. On the role of District Inspector of Schools, Ballia, in the paper leak, I can’t preempt an ongoing inquiry.”
Ballia DIOS Brajesh Mishra was suspended and later arrested for his alleged role in the leak.