Bihar toppers scam: SIT arrests Bihar School Examination Board secretary

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), secretary Harihar Nath Jha in connection with the fake toppers scandal in Patna on Monday. The police said that Jha was arrested after evidence related to the scandal went against him.

According to highly placed sources, Harihar is one of the key persons who can uncover many hidden links related to the scandal. The police arrested Jha after he was questioned by the SIT on Monday. Earlier on June 6, the police had registered an FIR against him.

“Jha’s role seems vital in this case as former BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Singh kept taking his name during interrogation,” the police said after Mr Jha was arrested on Monday.

According to a source, Jha was arrested after the SIT found evidence which suggested that he had tampered evaluation and answer sheets. The SIT is said to have recovered answer sheets from Kaimur district which indicates his involvement in the scandal. “The SIT found his signature on various documents which proved his involvement. They are also investigating his role in tampering with mark sheets,” the source told this newspaper.

So far around 20 persons, including former BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Singh, his wife Usha Sinha, Vishun Rai College principal Bacha Rai and humanities topper Ruby Rai have been arrested.

Meanwhile, on Monday while opposing Ruby Rai’s arrest and the charges levelled against her, an organisation called “Prayas” threatened to file a PIL in the Patna high court for “keeping a minor in jail”.

Prayas state programme director Suresh Kumar said, “The police cannot arrest a minor. In toppers scandal case, the arrested student is a victim and minor and her rights are being violated.”

We will file a PIL in the Patna high court on Wednesday”.

Earlier, the Opposition had opposed the arrest of Miss Ruby and had slammed the state government saying “students were being punished for the mistakes of the system”. The police had arrested Ruby Rai after she failed in her re-examination on Saturday.