Professor used endoscope camera, needle to leak agriculture exam

Raipur law enforcement personnel Saturday arrested six people, including a professor identified as the alleged mastermind, in connection with the leak of the B.Sc. (Agriculture) second-year, second-semester Entomology examination paper of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University (IGAU) on August 20.

The alleged mastermind, 38-year-old Yogesh Sonkesariya, is a professor at Bharti Agriculture College in Durg, where he has been employed since 2019.

Under the university's protocol, professors are entrusted with carrying examination papers from the main agricultural college to their respective institutions and submitting answer sheets after examinations. An FIR has been filed against the accused under Sections 4, 5 and 10 of the Chhattisgarh Public Examination Act, 2008, and Section 316 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Key Analysis and Detailed Timeline

On August 17, three days before the paper leak, he came to the Agricultural College at Jora, Raipur, to submit answer sheets from his college. After submitting them, he collected question papers for examinations scheduled over the following week, including the Entomology paper.

However, instead of submitting the Entomology paper to his college authorities on return, he took it home — a security lapse confirmed Sonkesariya then purchased a thin endoscope camera, made a small hole in the sealed envelope using a needle and copied approximately 15 questions A day before the examination, he sold the paper to three students from his college, including Ajay Nayak, for Rs 11,000.

Nayak allegedly passed it on to Tridev Patel, Nitin Pandey, Anuj Minj and Aditya Sahu — all students of Bharti Agriculture College. Two more suspects are wanted in the case.

Deputy Commissioner of Law enforcement personnel (Central Zone) Tarkeshwar Patel stated the inquiry established the source of the leak and the identities of all accused after 36 hours of continuous field and technical work.

"During the inquiry, we traced Anuj Minj of Durg and sent a team to apprehend him. Information from his questioning led to further deployments across Kabirdham, Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur and near Law enforcement personnel seized Rs 11,000 in cash, six mobile phones, a video-recording device, cable wires, a mobile connector, a needle, a sharp instrument, a notebook and adhesive from the accused.

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Broader Impact and Sector Outlook

The leak came to light on the earlier today of the examination. At around 8:41 am, The Agricultural College and Research Centre, Kawardha, received an email alerting it to the leaked paper.

University authorities approached the law enforcement personnel, and the examination — scheduled from 10 am to 1 pm across all 28 agricultural colleges under IGAU, with around 1,200 students appearing — was cancelled that evening.

A re-examination has been confirmed. Following the leak, the university revised its protocol for Saturday's first-year examination. Registrar Dr Kapil Dev Deepak stated the question paper was sent "It is a lapse on the part of the college.

We are taking suggestions from the police and a committee has been constituted to improve the system," he said. Deputy Commissioner of Law enforcement personnel (Crime and Cyber) Smritik Rajnala stated more than 100 law enforcement personnel personnel were deployed across teams sent to Kabirdham, Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur and adjoining districts.

"Our team analysed the leaked paper, screenshots, photographs, messages and social media posts.

Investigators examined the timeline of the paper's circulation, including which account, mobile number or digital platform had first disseminated it. Suspicious social media accounts, mobile numbers, groups and digital contacts were technically examined, along with the activities and locations of persons linked to the digital evidence," he stated.

Law enforcement personnel are continuing to question those arrested about the involvement of others, and the two absconding suspects are being traced.