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Six individuals, including the professor and five students from a private college in Durg district, have been arrested following a multi-district operation
The reconstructed questions were sold to a student for Rs 11,000, who subsequently shared the material across student networks via WhatsApp. Representational pic
Police in Chhattisgarh have uncovered a high-tech examination paper leak involving an assistant professor who allegedly used a miniature endoscopic camera and a needle to record a sealed question paper without breaking the packaging.
Six individuals, including the professor and five students from a private college in Durg district, have been arrested following a multi-district operation.
Modus Operandi Behind the Breach
The primary suspect, 38-year-old Yogesh Sonkesariya, worked as a professor at Bharti Agriculture College in Durg. Responsible for collecting official examination papers from Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV) in Raipur, Sonkesariya allegedly took the sealed Entomology paper for the BSc Agriculture second-year programme to his residence.
- Surgical Precision: Rather than tearing open the sealed envelope, the suspect used a needle and a sharp instrument to pierce a tiny hole at the bottom of the packaging.
- Endoscopic Scanning: He inserted a miniature medical endoscopic camera through the opening to record and view the printed questions inside.
- Manual Transcription: Sonkesariya manually transcribed approximately 15 questions from the video footage to reconstruct the examination paper.
- Monetisation and Spread: The reconstructed questions were sold to a student for Rs 11,000, who subsequently shared the material across student networks via WhatsApp.
Discovery and Immediate Response
The leak surfaced on the morning of the examination when an official alert email reached university authorities, alongside reports of circulating WhatsApp screenshots.
1. Exam Cancellation: University officials cancelled the Entomology examination across all 28 affiliated agriculture colleges, affecting around 1,200 students.
2. Technical Tracing: Cybercrime teams analysed social media activity, transmission timelines, and digital contact networks, tracing the initial online origin to a student in Durg within 36 hours.
3. Seizures and Arrests: Law enforcement seized cash, mobile devices, video recording cables, connectors, adhesive, and the endoscopy equipment used in the operation.
Systemic Changes and Investigation
An FIR has been registered under the Chhattisgarh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators are probing whether previous papers were compromised using the same technique.
To prevent further breaches, the university has revised its question paper distribution protocol, shifting to encrypted digital delivery secured via One-Time Passwords (OTP) sent directly to examination centres shortly before test times.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18Yes, university officials cancelled the Entomology examination across all 28 affiliated agriculture colleges, affecting around 1,200 students, and students are awaiting further information from the university regarding the cancelled examination and the next course of action.
Ask News18About the Author
Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More
Durg, India, India
August 23, 2026, 06:45 IST
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