Day 2: Karnataka PU question paper leak kingpin dodges queries

BENGALURU: The prime accused and alleged kingpin in the PU question paper leak, Shivakaumaraiah, is proving to be a hard nut to crack and has maintained that he had no role in this year’s Chemistry question paper leak. However, he has confessed to such incidents prior to 2014.

During the second day of questioning on Thursday, the accused said his nephew Kiran, who is still at large, and his friend Manjunath, a PT teacher, may have sold the leaked question papers to Obalaraj, one of the arrested and his relative Rudrappa, said a source.  

t is learnt that ‘Guruji’ alias Shivakumaraiah has confessed to the past incidents, wherein he and his son Dinesh, were arrested by CCB police in 2014 in connection with the CET question paper leak, but claimed that thereafter they had desisted from such activities. He claimed he got into question paper leaks due to the financial troubles he faced after retirement.

“He would usually get the question papers leaked and later get it photo-copied at his residence, to sell it among students. He has even revealed that at times, he has got teachers to write examinations for which the parents of the wards paid him good money. However, he claims that he is no longer in this business,” a source added.    

As the police can’t be harsh on him, considering his poor health, they are confronting him with evidences, to which Shivakumaraiah is giving evasive replies. Everyday his health is being monitored by doctors.

When he was quizzed by a team of officials regarding the transactions made from his account in last five to six years, which amounts to Rs 30 lakh, the kingpin reportedly told the police that his late father, who was a real estate agent, had parked money in his account, sources at the CID said.

Shivakumaraiah also told police that his son Dinesh, also an accused, has no role in the latest PU question paper leak. He had left the business two years ago and Kiran was spearheading it since 2014.

However, the police have rubbished his claims, the official added. Dinesh, an MBBS drop out, who allegedly joined hands with his father, is still on the run and various teams are also on the lookout for Kiran alias Kumar Swamy, the nephew of the kingpin, officials added.