by Ajay Kumar
Lucknow: Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh, once infamous throughout the country as a haven for terrorists, is now gaining notoriety for cheating in examinations. And not just any cheating, but orchestrated by those entrusted with shaping the children’s futures—principals and teachers. The principal was caught running a cheating racket in a gang-like fashion, jeopardizing students’ futures. This was revealed when a major cheating syndicate was apprehended by the police.
During the ongoing Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) exams in Azamgarh, the SOG and police team caught a gang involved in mass cheating for money. The principal of Rajendra Smarak Inter College, Sethwal, and several teachers, along with multiple school managers from different locations, were among the 12 people arrested for cheating. During the raid, ₹18,18,000 was also recovered.
According to reports, a few days ago, the police received an anonymous letter regarding cheating in the exams. Based on this letter, a comprehensive strategy was developed. The D.I.D. assigned SP Hemraj Meena to handle the case, and the SP City was tasked with thoroughly investigating and apprehending the cheating racketeers. After finding evidence of financial transactions related to cheating, a raid was conducted, leading to the arrest of 12 people.
SP Hemraj Meena stated that information was received about the D.El.Ed third semester exams being held at Rajendra Smarak Inter College, including exams in Science and two other subjects. It was found that cheating was being systematically facilitated for money. Hence, a team was formed including the local police, SP City, the Tehsildar, and the Deputy Director to investigate. The investigation revealed that some invigilators were involved in organizing cheating, with students being provided with proper data dictation in the examination rooms. A search of the principal’s vehicle revealed money, and further searches at various locations led to the recovery of approximately ₹18 lakh in cash. All involved have been charged under legal provisions and sent to jail.
SP Hemraj Meena also mentioned that before the third semester, information about cheating in the first semester exams on August 8 and 10 was received, but no concrete evidence was found. Based on the cheating information in the third semester, the raid was conducted, and the cheating syndicate was exposed. The involvement of school management and several others was revealed, leading to the registration of cases against approximately 12 people. The team will continue to investigate the matter thoroughly.
