Scamsters return with trucks to remove evidence at Madras University
CHENNAI: In what could be the biggest theft in Madras University's 160 year history, scamsters who were left with impunity after a major exam scam had returned to wipe out any traces of their wrongdoing by lifting over 30,000 answer scripts in trucks.
The process, they have left the university officials baffled and a bigger crime to solve.
An internal inquiry has revealed totally 116 boxes each containing nearly 300 answer scripts were brazenly looted from the centenary auditorium where they have been secured for an inquiry into the exam malpractices. The boxes require professional loaders and one or two heavy vehicles to move them out of the university.
The lack of CCTV cameras in the centenary auditorium which is visited by the VVIPs further points to a major security lapse.
“Even though the key register is available, the fact that no entries have been made in the register raises further concern. The only entry was made on February 26 the day when the theft came to light,” the inquiry found.
The university suspects that the papers discarded by the prime conspirators were subsequently sold to old newspaper marts. Available evidences are pointing towards a co-ordinated and well orchestrated plot.
“The effort and planning, meticulous details with which the conspiracy was hatched clearly indicate insiders' role,” sources said.
“It's apparent that those who stole the papers knew the location of papers, the routines involved in moving the papers in and out of the store room, the absence of CCTV camera and the names of the cleaners involved,” sources pointed out.
Public institutions typically have standard operating procedures (SOPs) to track movement of vehicles carrying confidential and vital documents. “It is a surprise that university does not have such a system in place,” professors said.
Sources in the university said despite having prima facie evidences, the sub-committee which inquired into the exam scam did not probe the role of university staff.
Though the university has debarred about 800 candidates and cancelled exam centres in outside the state, it did not take any disciplinary action against the staff for “lack of evidence.”
Many professors are deeply concerned that the primary reason for such theft is because many perpetrators have been allowed to go scot free with impunity on previous occasions.
As a consequence, the corrupt elements in the university have become more bolder and daring in exploiting vulnerabilities in university security system.
The university authorities said they did not take action against the staff members of IDE for lack of prima facie evidence. “The preliminary enquiry report has only fixed the responsibility and did not provide any evidence against the staff members for involving in the theft. We have lodged complaint with the police and they have started inquiry into the theft of answer scripts,” they said.
Some professors suggested that in order to avoid further tampering of evidence those suspected to be directly involved in the operations should be immediately suspended.
Madras University Vice-Chancellor P.Duraisamy said the university will soon appoint a retired DGP to conduct an inquiry into the incident besides the police investigation.
“Despite the theft, the university still has crucial evidence to the exam scam. The university will not tolerate such incidents and will take severe action based on the inquiry report,” he said assuring that the police investigation is already on track.
He further said several procedural lapses and security loopholes came to light following the incident.
However, professors said that it is not merely a question of lack of security but also points the ease with which some administrative staff can be made to compromise. They said it calls into question the very integrity of the administrative system.
