Bihar toppers scam: Arrest warrant issued against former BSEB chairman, wife

The Patna lower court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against the former Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman, Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, who has been absconding since his name figured in the Class 12 toppers scam.

Singh resigned from his post last week following his alleged involvement in the scam.

An arrest warrant has also been issued against his wife and former Janata Dal (United) Member of Legislative Assembly, Usha Sinha, who is also on the run since her name figured in the scam.

Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 scam, was arrested on Saturday after he surrendered before the police.

Both Singh and Rai are wanted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) with regard to the alleged irregularities in the Class 12 Arts and Science examination 2016 results.

According to reports, the SIT has found evidences that suggest Singh's role in the racket. The evidence collected also indicates the board's complicity in the scam.

Last week five persons arrested in this case were remanded in 14 days judicial custody by a local court in Patna.

First Information Report was registered against four students and the director of the Vishun Roy College in connection with the scam.

Following the furore over the Bihar board examination toppers being unable to answer basic questions related to their stream eventually leading to a re-examination, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had earlier said the guilty won't be spared and the investigation into this matter will be done with a criminal angle.

The BSEB earlier on June 4 cancelled the results of two toppers, Rahul Kumar and Sourabh Shrestha, of the Intermediate (Science) examinations after they failed to prove their merits in a re-test.

Saurabh Shrestha from the science stream, who had secured 485 out of 500, was caught on camera failing to answer basic questions.

Ruby Rai, the arts topper, from the same college failed to take the re-test earlier on Friday citing health reasons.

Rai had secured 444 marks out of 500 in the arts stream. However, on camera she did not even appear to know the number of subjects in her course.