TET paper leak charge sheet: papers smuggled out hidden in shoes for Rs 8,000
SIT charge sheet says printing press workers hid TET question papers in their shoe insoles to smuggle them out for a mere Rs 8,000
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing irregularities in Maharashtra's Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) has filed a charge sheet running to about 3,500 pages in the additional sessions court in Bhivandi. The charge sheet reveals that a clever ploy was used to leak the papers, evading tight security at an Agra printing press for just Rs 8,000.
The TET papers were being printed at a press in Agra called Maheem Patran Private Limited. The press was guarded by former soldiers with strict security arrangements, and employees working there were thoroughly searched. However, security personnel did not check the insoles of workers' shoes. Taking advantage of this gap, Nareshkumar alias Nikki, an employee at the press, folded printed papers and hid them under the insole of his shoe.
Another employee named Babulal would take papers out of the press room and hand them over, and Nareshkumar would smuggle them out hidden in his shoe. In this way, over three consecutive days, June 15 to 17, all four sets of Paper 1 and Paper 2 were smuggled out.
These employees, who earned Rs 12,000 to 15,000 a month at the printing press, were initially paid Rs 8,000 in cash. In addition, they were lured with promises of a large plot of land, a house, and their son's wedding being paid for in exchange for the papers.
The paper sets stolen from the printing press were passed on to the main accused, Brijendra Gupta. These papers were then given to students who wanted them or needed them, with each student charged between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1 lakh, and their academic documents and mark sheets were also taken as security.
Police have so far arrested 16 to 18 people in the case. Besides main accused Brijendra Gupta and Prakash Pawar of Solapur, suspects from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also among those arrested. As per the High Court's order, the case will be heard in a fast-track court and a verdict must be delivered within the next three months. Advocate Ajay Misar has been appointed special government prosecutor for the case.
