Date:17/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121760270900.htm

Tamil Nadu

Question paper leak case: CBI wants former DGP examined

Special Correspondent

Question paper of General Knowledge subject was leaked twice, resulting in cancellation of examinations

CHENNAI: The police recruitment question paper leak case of 2005 is set to assume new dimensions with the Central Bureau of Investigation asking the State government to examine former Director-General of Police A.X. Alexander before taking action on two top police officers.

The agency had written to the Chief Secretary recommending major departmental action against V. Balachandran, Additional Director-General of Police (Vigilance), Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, and T. Radhakrishnan, Inspector General of Police (Training), for “failing” to conduct the examination in a fair manner in 2005.

The Question paper of the ‘General Knowledge’ subject was leaked twice resulting in the cancellation of the examinations. The two officials were then Members of the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB). In the letter sent a few months ago, CBI officials have referred to a statement recorded from Mr. Alexander, who was the then Chairman of the TNUSRB, which provides clear information on who was responsible for the leak of the question paper and how. The statement of the former DGP was also recorded by the Crime Branch CID police who initially investigated the case, sources in the agency said.

According to police sources, the government was yet to take a decision on the recommendations of the CBI while in the case of Mr. Radhakrishnan, a senior police officer in the rank of a Director-General of Police has conducted an enquiry and submitted his report to the competent authority. “The government had asked for a copy of the statement recorded from Mr. Alexander which we have sent,” an investigator said.