M A I N   N E W S

Chaos all over after AIEEE paper leak
Exam delayed by 3 hours; one nabbed in Kanpur
Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Lucknow, May 1
The question paper for the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) was leaked in Uttar Pradesh today and the copies were reportedly sold for Rs 6 lakh each, forcing the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to postpone the exam by three hours.

The exam is held in two parts. The first paper is for Bachelor of Engineering (BE) aspirants, while the second one is for those wanting to pursue Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch).

Over 12 lakh students across the country took the test after the CBSE provided them with fresh set of questions.

According to the original schedule, the first paper was to begin at 9.30 am and the second at 2 pm.

The first paper was then held at 12.30 p.m. and the second one at 4 pm. Following the delay, the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) entrance exam — scheduled at 2.30 pm — was delayed to 4.30 pm.

A team of Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) nabbed a person in Kanpur in connection with the paper leak and took him to Lucknow for questioning.

Kanpur City SP K Saurabh said the person was picked up near Devki Cinema Hall in the Kakadev area, where most of the engineering coaching centres are located. His identity was not disclosed.

UP Special Task Force’s Senior Superintendent of Police Vijay Prakash said they received a copy of the question paper last night.“We faxed the paper to the CBSE chairman and it was confirmed this morning that the paper was the original one,” he said.

“When we got to know (about the leak) in the morning, our aim was to do it without causing much inconvenience to most of the children... first was to ensure the exam happens as early as possible and that we have been able to do,” said Vineet Joshi, chairman and central vigilance officer, CBSE

“We have notified centres all over the country. Students who want to appear for the AFMC exam today, can appear for the B. Arch exam later on May 8,” Joshi added.

He added if centres had the capacity to accommodate students, they could conduct both exams today. If not, the AIEEE exam could be held on May 8 at 9.30 am Special DGP Brij Lal said in Lucknow that a police informer claimed that the leaked AIEEE papers were available for Rs 6 lakh each. Later in the evening, the STF registered an FIR against unknown people.