Following the leak, the university revised its protocol for Saturday's first-year examination. Registrar Dr Kapil Dev Deepak said the question paper was sent by email, accessible only through a One-Time Password (OTP) shortly before the examination. (File)Raipur police 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 registered 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).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 by both police and university officials.Sonkesariya then purchased a thin endoscope camera, made a small hole in the sealed envelope using a needle and copied approximately 15 questions by identifying and ordering words visible through the device.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 Police (Central Zone) Tarkeshwar Patel said the investigation established the source of the leak and the identities of all accused after 36 hours of continuous field and technical work. “During the investigation, 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 nearby districts,” he said. Police 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.Story continues below this adThe leak came to light on the morning 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 officials approached the police, 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 announced.Following the leak, the university revised its protocol for Saturday’s first-year examination. Registrar Dr Kapil Dev Deepak said the question paper was sent by email, accessible only through a One-Time Password (OTP) shortly before the examination. “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 Police (Crime and Cyber) Smritik Rajnala said more than 100 police 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 said.Police are continuing to question those arrested about the involvement of others, and the two absconding suspects are being traced.Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More Tags:Raipur