Maharashtra Board Class 12 Chemistry Paper Leak Suspected in Nagpur
Police in Nagpur have launched a formal investigation into a suspected paper leak concerning the ongoing Maharashtra state board examination's Class 12 Chemistry paper, which was conducted on February 18. The probe was initiated after authorities discovered that questions found in a WhatsApp message on the mobile phone of a female student appearing for the exam in Nagpur city bore a striking resemblance to the actual questions in the examination paper.
Discovery and Confirmation
The Nagpur divisional board office has officially confirmed this development to the media. The incident first came to light when an exam supervisor grew suspicious of the female student's unusually frequent trips to the washroom during the examination. Shivling Patve, the Chairman of the Nagpur divisional board, stated, "The student was attempting to access a mobile phone, which was promptly confiscated by the centre examiners. Upon examination, it was found that some questions in a WhatsApp message were similar to the actual ones in the paper."
Patve further elaborated that an FIR (First Information Report) has been registered with the police, who are now actively investigating the matter. "Due to the ongoing police investigation, I cannot comment extensively at this stage. However, from our side, we will also conduct a thorough internal inquiry and submit a detailed report to our senior officials," he added.
Unclear Details and Enhanced Vigilance
As of now, it remains unclear whether the student had the mobile phone on her person during the exam or if she had concealed it in the washroom, accessing it from there. In response to this incident, Chairman Patve emphasized the board's commitment to tightening security measures. "We will ramp up our vigilance and ensure that no spot is missed while checking such places in the future to prevent any recurrence," he assured.
Historical Context and Broader Implications
This is not an isolated incident for the Maharashtra state board, which has witnessed similar paper leak scandals in the past. Each year, the board has attempted to enhance security protocols across the entire chain of operations, from paper setting and printing to distribution, to safeguard the integrity of its examinations.
A junior board official from the Nagpur office commented on the situation, noting, "After the police investigation is complete, we will gain clarity on at which specific stage the paper may have been leaked. This will help us identify vulnerabilities and strengthen our processes accordingly."
The suspected leak has raised serious concerns about examination security and fairness, prompting calls for more robust measures to protect the sanctity of state board exams in Maharashtra.
