Raipur/Durg, Chhattisgarh: Six people, including a professor and five students of a private college in Durg district, have been arrested in connection with the leak of an Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV) question paper, officials said.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday confirmed the arrests and said the probe is continuing. A senior police officer said the alleged method involved covertly photographing the contents of a sealed envelope using an endoscopic camera inserted through a small hole.
"Six individuals, including the prime accused, have been arrested in connection with the paper leak case, and the investigation is ongoing. If anyone else is found to be involved, action will be taken against them as well," the Chief Minister said.
How the leak came to light
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Cyber) Smruthik Rajanala, the breach was detected on the morning of 20 August, the day the BSc Agriculture second-year entomology examination was scheduled between 10 am and 1 pm across 28 agriculture colleges affiliated to IGKV.
Dr N R Rangare, senior scientist and in-charge of the undergraduate examination cell at IGKV, filed a complaint after the Agriculture College and Research Centre at Kawardha received an email at 8:41 am alleging the paper had leaked. Other university officials received similar messages at 8:54 am, and students and their representatives reported purported questions circulating on WhatsApp.
Investigation and arrests
A joint team of more than 100 police personnel — drawn from the Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit, Telibandha police station and the Crime Branch — moved quickly. The cyber wing analysed viral screenshots, photographs and messages to trace the origin.
Investigators say they traced the leak to Bharti Agriculture College in Durg and subsequently arrested the accused within 36 hours of receiving the complaint.
| Accused | Role / Affiliation | Age (where reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Yogesh Sonkesariya | Professor, alleged mastermind (Bharti Agriculture College) | |
| Anuj Minj | Student, alleged source traced to Durg | 22 |
| Ajay Nayak | Student | 20 |
| Tridev Patel | Student | 22 |
| Nitin Pandey | Student | 22 |
| Aditya Sahu | Student | 20 |
Police said the professor allegedly carried the sealed envelope containing the question paper from the university and made a small hole in its bottom to insert the endoscopic camera and capture images. Those images were allegedly shared with students, who in turn disseminated them online and via messaging platforms, the investigation found.
Legal action and cancellation of paper
Following the complaint, authorities registered a case under the Chhattisgarh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2008, and under Section 316 (criminal breach of trust) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the DCP said. The entomology examination scheduled for August 20 was cancelled after the leak was reported.
Police emphasised that the probe combines conventional inquiries with cyber forensics. The cyber wing examined the viral content — screenshots, photographs and social-media posts — to establish how the paper reached students and how it spread.
Impact and next steps
The cancellation affects examinees at 28 affiliated colleges, and the university will need to decide on re-examination or alternative steps in accordance with its regulations and the ongoing inquiry. The Chief Minister and police both indicated that further arrests are possible if additional involvement is discovered.
- Immediate outcome: Six arrests confirmed, examination cancelled.
- Charges: Cases under the state examination law and Section 316 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- Evidence used: Cyber analysis of viral material, witness leads and a physical probe tracing the envelope handling.
Authorities said they will continue forensic and cyber analysis and questioned other students and staff as part of the inquiry. No judicial pronouncements on bail or remand were immediately available.
IGKV operates as the state agricultural university and the incident raises concerns about examination security and malpractice prevention across affiliated colleges in Chhattisgarh. Officials have not yet announced a date for any re-examination or the university's administrative response to the staff member implicated.
