Varsity rejects allegations of question paper leak

NASHIK: Savitribai Phule Pune University’s controller of examination V B Gaikwad has categorically ruled out the possibility of the second-year civil engineering question paper for Strength of Material (SoM) subject being leaked on the day of the exam on November 12.
“There is no conclusive proof to show that it was a paper leak,” Gaikwad insisted while speaking to TOI and said, the university has already approached the police for an investigation.“Let the police probe bring out the facts,” he added.
Gaikwad said, according to the information available with the university, the question paper was dispatched to colleges here through the university’s secured online system at 9.03am i.e. 57 minutes prior to the scheduled time of commencement of paper at 10am.
“The so-called leaked paper was found to be circulated on WhatsApp around 9.46am, which is 14 minutes before the examination would start. However, as per the rules of the university, students have to enter the examination hall half an hour before it begins. Also, no student is allowed to enter the hall 15 minutes before the examination. Hence the possibility of students benefitting or knowing about the question paper is faint,” said Gaikwad.
Gaikwad said, “The university registrar has been asked to visit the Sarkarwada police station for completing formalities relating to the first information report seeking investigation into the matter.”
The university had conducted the exam for the second-year civil engineering on November 12. However, it is alleged that the question paper was circulated on WhatsApp in Nashik about half an hour prior to the commencement of the paper. About 900 students had appeared for the examination in Nashik.