VTU probe committee says 20 papers leaked

The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belgaum had conducted the Engineering first semester Mathematics re-exam on Jan 23, the paper has been leaked half an hour before the exam. Around 69,000 first semester students appeared for the re-exam after the maths paper leak.

According to the chairman of the probe committee constituted by VTU, not one, but as many as 20 papers were leaked during the exam period from Deb 20, 2012 to Jan 15, 2013.

Mr. P. Martin Debaraj, who headed the probe, quit as dean of engineering after these findings were showed under the carpet. However, he will remain as member of the Academic senate and Executive council of the VTU.

Speaking to TH, Prof. Debaraj said, "A total of 52 subjects including electives, we found that 20 papers were leaked. However, in the final report that was sent to the Vice chancellor after the fourth sitting in which I was absent, only the Jan 15 maths paper leak was mentioned. When I contacted the university, I was orally told that the mandate of the committee was to probe the Jan 15 leak and mentioning the rest would tarnish the image of the University,"

He further said that, leak had occurred at the printout stage, when the questions papers are printed out if the principal's offices from the question paper delivery system (QPDS) software.

Prof. Debaraj also hinted at the possibility of the backup CD, which contains all the question papers, being misused.

The report that finally appeared before the VTU executive council on Friday was a diluted one. And Prof. Jebaraj sent in his registration on Saturday.

VTU Vice-chancellor H Maheshappa dismissed the allegations made by Prof. Debaraj that he was asked not make any mention of the leak of 20 questions papers in the report.

Prof Maheshappa stated that the allegations made by the Prof. Debaraj were far from truth and based on rumours.