Mass Cheating Scandal Erupts at Maharashtra HSC Exam Center
The first day of the Maharashtra State Board's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations was marred by a significant case of mass copying at Rashtriya Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Kannad taluka, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. This incident has resulted in immediate legal and administrative action against the examination staff on duty.
Immediate Suspensions and FIRs Filed
Education officer (secondary) Ashwini Latkar confirmed that the process to file a First Information Report (FIR) against 16 supervisors, the center head, two members of the sitting squad, and a runner is underway. All these individuals are set to be suspended by Wednesday, marking a swift response from the authorities.
Acting chairperson of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Nandkumar Bedse, stated that an inquiry into the incident has been initiated. He emphasized that action against the students involved will also be taken as per the established rules and regulations.
Evidence of Widespread Malpractice
The education officer discovered students with photocopies of answers during the English exam. Some students were observed sitting in close proximity to each other, actively engaging in cheating. Latkar reviewed the CCTV camera footage from the center, which revealed maximum unexplained actions in three classrooms, with other rooms also showing dubious conduct. This footage has been taken into custody as crucial evidence.
Bedse highlighted that the state board has implemented strict measures to prevent cheating, and such cases are being exposed as part of these efforts. The center, which had 327 students appearing for the English paper, will be assigned new staff to supervise and conduct the pending exams starting Wednesday.
Random Inspection Uncovers Scandal
Latkar noted that the center was not classified as sensitive. She was conducting a random supervision when she noticed suspicious activity. The supervisors and invigilators involved were teachers from both within the school and external appointments. The suspension orders for these individuals are being processed and are expected to be issued by Wednesday.
Statewide Exam Statistics and Other Incidents
Over 15 lakh students from nine divisions across Maharashtra—Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur, Amravati, Kolhapur, Konkan, and Nashik—appeared for the English paper from 11 am to 2 pm. On the first day alone, the state board recorded 42 cases of cheating and malpractices.
The breakdown of these cases is as follows:
- Amravati division: 22 cases
- Pune division: 10 cases
- Nashik division: 4 cases
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division: 3 cases
- Latur division: 2 cases
- Nagpur division: 1 case
No cases of copying were registered in the Mumbai, Kolhapur, and Konkan divisions.
Drone Footage Investigation in Beed District
In a separate incident, drone footage showing people near the windows of an exam center in Beed district went viral on Tuesday. This prompted the board to direct the relevant education officer to submit an investigation report.
Beed collector Vivek Johnson explained that the drone was operated by the district education department after reports of a crowd near a school. He clarified that all windows were closed, and the CCTV camera footage from inside the classrooms did not indicate any cheating activity. The center was not on the list of sensitive locations.
Johnson added that the respective tehsildar has been instructed to review the footage and CCTV recordings again to ensure no untoward behavior occurred. Bedse mentioned that the lack of a boundary wall around the school might have led to people gathering near the center, but no cheating incident was found upon inspection.
