The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : CB CID transfers question paper leak case to CBI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 24, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

CB CID transfers question paper leak case to CBI

K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI: With the State Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department (CB CID) handing over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) documents in the case relating to leakage of police selection question papers in Tamil Nadu, the stage is set for the central agency to commence the probe. Re-registration of the case by CBI would be done in the next few days and investigation would commence thereafter, a CBI source said.

Hitherto, the CBI was awaiting the transfer of documents from the CB CID which earlier handled the case. The State police handed over the papers after receiving a copy of the Supreme Court in the matter. The source said officials of the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch would conduct the investigation under the supervision of an Additional Superintendent.

The matter relates to the leakage of question papers twice when examinations for the selection of 1997 Grade II police constables in the State were held in March and June 2005. In the wake of criticism, the police initially ordered a departmental inquiry into the leakage. Following this, 24 officials were placed under suspension. Fourteen persons, including four constables and a head constable, were arrested.

Things took a serious turn after one of the candidates of Vellore district moved the Madras High Court that there was a "massive cover-up" to shield "high ranking police officials." The court ordered a probe by the central agency; but the State Government preferred an appeal.

The apex court upheld the High Court decision ordering a CBI probe. It dismissed as withdrawn the appeal petition.

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