2 best teacher' award winners arrested in II PU paper leak case

Bengaluru, Apr 6: Criminal Investigation Department (CID) sleuths on Wednesday arrested two more teachers in connection with the PU II question paper leak case. The two physical education (PE) teachers — Anilkumar HK of Poornaprajna College, Sadashivanagar, and Satish Kumar of Government High School, Mathikere — have been long-time friends and, ironically, even recipients of the 'best teacher' award for Bengaluru north, from not too long ago.

They are facing charges of selling the leaked question papers to students and handing over the money to Manjunath after taking a commission. The arrests were made following information given by one of the prime accused Manjunath, who is being interrogated by the CID. The accused will be produced before a court seeking police custody for questioning.

Manjunath, also a PE teacher, Obalaraju, officer on special duty to the Medical Education Minister, and Rudrappa, a PWD manager, were nabbed by the CID on Monday. The officials suspect that Manjunath got the question paper from the kingpin of the racket and had given it to Anil and Satish. The duo had reportedly sold the question papers directly to students of private colleges and collected money. Both had made about `50,000 each and given `4 lakh to Manjunath.

Anil and Satish, who knew each other for the past few years, are part of the gang involved in question paper leaks. Both came in contact with Manjunath during the training period and sports meet. They had received the chemistry question paper, which was leaked the first time, 12 hours before the exam. They had approached students of private tutorials located around their residences and had collected the names of those interested in buying the paper.

Best teachers'

A senior CID official said the arrested PE teacher Anil had received the Best Teacher Award from the state government in 2015-16 based on a recommendation from his college. The college had recommended his name after the performance of its students in the PU II exams improved. He was also close to top officials in the PUE and Public Instruction Departments.

Interestingly, he used to be seen in the department office during results giving details of the college toppers to the media. Satish also received a Best Teacher Award presented by PE Teachers' Association.