CHENNAI: In a major embarrassment to the Madras University, around 500 answer scripts including the answer scripts related to the examination scam at the Institute of Distance Education (IDE) of the university have mysteriously disappeared from the record room.
With the disappearance of these answer scripts, the university has now potentially lost the crucial evidence for the major exam scam at IDE. The Madras University has withheld the results of over 500 candidates from Tamil Nadu who wrote distance education exams from the centres outside the state after unearthing an exam racket. The study centres joining hands with the touts have cheated the exam system by using the courier system. In a expose on November 13, 2017, Deccan Chronicle had reported how the scam was operated.
Meanwhile, the university also formed a syndicate committee to inquire into the scam after busting the exam racket. The committee had gone through several hundred answer scripts and is now preparing its report. The disputed answer scripts were kept in the record room of IDE.
The university officials when wanted to verify some of the answer scripts with related to the court case were in for a surprise. The parcels which had over 500 answer scripts including the disputed answer scripts were missing.
“The answer scripts were kept in the record room and was locked. Somehow, the scamsters were able to lift these answer scripts from the record room which is very shocking,” sources in the university said.
“The disappearance of answer sheets may allow the scamsters to go scotfree. It is the crucial evidence for proving the scam,” they added. When contacted the university officials have confirmed that answer scripts are missing in the IDE.
“For every six months the waste answer scripts will be handed over to the TNPL. We don't know whether the bundles were handed over along with the waste papers. We have asked for a report from the controller of examinations office regarding the disappearance of answer sheets,” they said.
However, the officials said the syndicate committee has completed its inquiry regarding the scam and will submit the report very soon. Several months ago the university has received anonymous letters levelling allegations that the candidates from Chennai were writing exams in Mumbai to clear their arrears.
The letters also alleged that candidates were paying money to agents and some staff members also involved in the racket.
Following the letters, the officials from the Controller of Examinations have verified the answer sheets of the December 2016 exam. "Why candidates from Chennai or Tiruvallur have to go to all the way to Mumbai to write their exams?" this question prompted the officials to start a full-fledged inquiry.
Some answer sheets had extraordinarily beautiful handwritings with no errors. This raised suspicion.
Same handwritings were found in many papers. One candidate had over 10 different handwritings for his arrear papers. Many of these candidates who had bulk arrears had cleared almost all the papers in one go. Some candidates who had more than 15 arrears cleared 14 or 15 papers at one go which is very difficult for even regular students.
