Opposition turns up heat on paper leak; AAP govt trashes charge

Chandigarh: The opposition parties have been turning up the heat on the AAP government in Punjab, alleging multiple examination paper leaks in the past four-and-a-half years following the detection of a cheating racket in the pharmacy officers’ recruitment examination recently. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, however, has stood his ground, claiming that not even a single exam paper was leaked in the state during the AAP’s tenure.

The AAP also claimed that the Congress, SAD and BJP are trying to create a fake narrative to mislead people as they do not have any issue against the Mann government.

The opposition parties are cornering the Mann government in poll-bound Punjab ever since police on July 19 unearthed a cheating racket in the pharmacy officers’ recruitment exam, pressing for the resignation of Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Health Minister Balbir Singh. On July 19, Punjab Police dismantled a sophisticated, inter-state cheating racket operating during the pharmacy officers’ examination and arrested 10 candidates along with an 11-member gang. Police detected the use of pen cameras and real-time dictation during the exam.

The investigation revealed that the cheating racket charged desperate candidates sums ranging between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 13 lakh to guarantee passing marks.