2 held in BTC paper leak case

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) arrested two persons in Allahabad on Saturday in connection with the BTC question paper leak case.

The STF team arrested Ashish Agarwal and Arvind Bhargava from Allahabad after a probe into the paper leak of Basic Training Certificate - 2015 (fourth semester) examinations from Kaushambi district, sources said.

For the last few years, Dipti Enterprises, whose proprietor is Ashish Agarwal's wife, had been getting the contract to print the BTC question papers as well as delivering them, sources said, adding that Agarwal was getting the printing done at a printing press owned by Arvind Bhargava.

During investigation, it was found that basic security arrangements at the press, like frisking, were not put in place and the papers could have been accessed by anyone, sources said. Further, the papers were not enclosed in sealed packets before transportation, they said.

The exam scheduled on October 8 was cancelled after it was found that the question papers were leaked. The cancelled exam will now be held between November 1 and 3.

Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had instructed the STF and the police department to take stringent action against those involved in the paper leak.