Indian police seek arrest warrant against former exam board chairman of Bihar over cheating scam

Police in India's eastern state of Bihar have sought an arrest warrant against former top official of state's exam board in "exam toppers" scam, officials said on Saturday.

The police department in the state is currently investigating a scam, where the toppers of school leaving exams were found to have resorted to cheating.

More than a million students sit for Bihar's Class 12 examinations (school leaving exams).

"A special investigation team of police has sought arrest warrant from Chief Judicial Magistrate against Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, former Chairman of Bihar School Examination Board and Bachcha Rai, Principal of Vishun Rai College, Hajipur in connection with examination merit scam," an official said. "Both of them are the main suspects in the case."

So far five people have been arrested in the case.

The cheating of toppers came under the spotlight after a viral video showed Arts student Ruby Rai saying political science was about cooking. Interview of the toppers was carried out by a local TV channel. Following the revelations, the board cancelled results of toppers and ordered a retest. However, Rai did not appear for the retest.

Last year, people were photographed climbing walls of examination center in an apparent bid to help their wards write exams by copying.

The revelations about cheating has come as an embarrassment to the Nitish Kumar-led government in the state that has directed officials to probe the matter as a criminal case. Endit