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Endoscopic cam used to leak Bsc paper at CG agri varsity: Cops
A professor and five students have been arrested in Chhattisgarh over the leak of an entomology exam paper, which police say was copied using an endoscopic camera without opening the sealed envelope. The university has cancelled the exam and is re-conducting it, while also cancelling another paper found to be leaked. Authorities have revised paper-handling protocols amid a wider review.
Raipur police have arrested six people, including a professor, in connection with the leak of a B.Sc. Agriculture Entomology examination paper of Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV). The alleged mastermind, 38-year-old Yogesh Sonkesariya, is a professor at Bharti Agriculture College in Durg, where he has been employed since 2019.
According to a report by The Indian Express, police said Sonkesariya collected question papers from the Agricultural College at Jora, Raipur, on August 17 while submitting answer sheets from his college. Instead of handing the Entomology paper to his college authorities on return, he took it home — a security lapse that police and university officials later confirmed.
Investigators said Sonkesariya purchased a thin endoscope camera, made a small hole in the sealed envelope using a needle and copied approximately 15 questions by viewing and ordering words visible through the device. The police said the paper was allegedly copied without opening the sealed envelope, with the camera inserted after an incision.
The FIR, registered under Sections 4, 5 and 10 of the Chhattisgarh Public Examination Act, 2008, and Section 316 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, names Sonkesariya and five students: Ajay Nayak, 20, Tridev Patel, 22, Nitin Pandey, 22, Anuj Minj, 22, and Aditya Sahu, 20 — all students of the same college.
The leak and exam cancellation
The second-year B.Sc. (Agriculture) entomology examination was scheduled for August 20, from 10 am to 1 pm, across 28 agricultural colleges under IGKVU, with around 1,200 students due to appear. That morning, at around 8:41 am, the Agriculture College and Research Centre in Kawardha received an email alerting officials to a leak, followed by a similar email to university officials around 8:53 am. Students and their representatives also alerted the university through WhatsApp that portions of the paper were circulating.
Police traced the circulation to Anuj Minj, a student from Durg, after examining the leaked paper, screenshots, photos, message texts and social-media posts, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Cyber) Smrith Rajanala. The accused were arrested within a half-day of the complaint being lodged. Investigators said they identified the source of the leak within 36 hours of field and technical work, with more than 100 police personnel deployed across teams to Kabirdham, Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur and adjoining districts.
Police seized ₹11,000 in cash, six mobile phones, a video-recording device, cable wires, a mobile connector, a needle, a sharp instrument, a notebook and adhesive from the accused.
University changes paper handling after the leak
Following the leak, the university revised its protocol for examinations. Registrar Dr Kapil Dev Deepak said the question paper for the first-year exam on the following Saturday was sent by email, accessible only through a One-Time Password (OTP) shortly before the examination. Question papers for the August 22 exams were also emailed to colleges, replacing physical copies, with papers for the 10 am exam provided at 9:30 am.
The university has taken steps to prevent further breaches. The number of CCTV cameras is to be increased in the examination department and in the exam halls at affiliated colleges, and the institution is considering modern technology to ensure confidentiality, transparency and security.
Wider probe and government response
The university has also initiated action against Bharatiya Agriculture College, Durg, for allegedly failing to ensure the confidentiality of the examination, and a notice has been issued to the college. Show-cause notices have been issued to the observers appointed by the university for both the August 20 entomology exam and the August 7 first-year Plant Pathology exam at the Durg college.
In the wake of the leak, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai directed a strict and impartial probe, and the government ordered a wider review of question-paper security from printing and storage to transportation and custody at exam centres. The police commissioner constituted a force of more than 100 personnel after a complaint was lodged at Telibandha police station. Probe teams have spread across multiple districts, and more than 16 people have been questioned so far.
Plant Pathology exam also cancelled
The state-run university later cancelled the B.Sc. Agriculture first-year Plant Pathology examination held on August 7 after a police investigation into the separate leak case confirmed that the paper had also been leaked. The decision came out of an emergency meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor Dr Girish Chandel, and the exam for that paper is to be re-performed in the first week of September, alongside the re-test for the Entomology paper.
Police said they are reconstructing the distribution chain of the augmented paper and looking into whether the six arrested kidneys are part of a wider network. Two additional suspects are still wanted, and the investigation is expanding beyond the exact entomology exam, probing claims that the B.Sc. first-year Plant Pathology paper may also have been compromised.
How each outlet told it
CNBC TV18
Framing: Headline focuses on paper leak confirmed and exam cancellation; omits other details. — Institutional, official - 'officials said'
Facts Included:
IGKV cancelled BSc Agriculture first-year Plant Pathology exam held August 7 after police investigation confirmed leak
Decision at emergency meeting chaired by VC Dr Girish Chandel
Entomology leak on August 20 led to arrest of professor and five students from private college in Durg
Plant Pathology re-test first week of September; Entomology re-test same period
University initiated action against Bharatiya Agricultural College, Durg, for confidentiality failure
Strict disciplinary action against students detained
Show-cause notices to observers for both exams
Question papers for August 22 exams sent via password-protected email; 10 am papers at 9:30 am
Framing: Headline focuses on cancellation of Plant Pathology exam and fresh test in September; omits details of how leak occurred and arrests. — Measured, institutional - 'Stringent measures are being taken to strengthen examination security...'
Facts Included:
IGKV cancelled the BSc Agriculture first-year Plant Pathology exam held on August 7 after police investigation into a separate case confirmed leak
Decision taken at emergency meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor Dr Girish Chandel
Entomology paper leak on August 20 led to arrest of professor and five students from private college in Durg
Plant Pathology re-test in first week of September; Entomology re-test also slated
Notice issued to Bharatiya Agricultural College, Durg, for failing to ensure confidentiality
Show-cause notices issued to observers for both exams
Question papers for August 22 exams sent via password-protected email, physical copies replaced
CCTV cameras to be increased in examination department and exam halls
Framing: Headline focuses on professor using endoscope and selling paper for ₹11,000; emphasizes sensational method and price. — Straightforward, factual - 'allegedly' used
Facts Included:
Raipur Police arrested six people including professor in connection with leak of B.Sc. Agriculture Entomology paper
Alleged mastermind Yogesh Sonkesariya, 38, professor at Bharti Agriculture College, Durg
He collected papers from Agricultural College at Jora on August 17 while submitting answer sheets
Used endoscope camera and needle to copy 15 questions
Sold paper to three students for Rs 11,000; Ajay Nayak shared with four other students (Tridev Patel, Nitin Pandey, Anuj Minj, Aditya Sahu)
Entomology exam cancelled on August 20 after information of leak
Exam scheduled 10 am to 1 pm at 28 colleges; 1,200 students expected
Arrested within 36 hours of complaint, per The Indian Express report
Seized Rs 11,000 cash, six mobile phones, video-recording device, cables, needle, etc.
University changed exam procedure: OTP email access
FIR under Sections 4, 5, 10 of Chhattisgarh Public Examination Act 2008 and Section 316 BNS
Framing: Headline focuses on speed of solving case (36 hours) and arrests; omits method details and other exam cancellation. — Factual, detailed - 'allegedly' used frequently
Facts Included:
Six arrested including professor in connection with leak of B.Sc. Agriculture second-year Entomology question paper
Paper went viral on social media about two hours before exam on August 20
Case cracked in 36 hours; two accused absconding
Exam AGCH-221 scheduled 10 am to 1 pm across affiliated colleges
Kawardha Agriculture College received email at 8:41 am; officials informed at 8:54 am
Students alerted university via WhatsApp about circulating paper
Complaint by Dr NR Rangare, Senior Scientist
Professor Yogesh Sonkesariya employed since 2019; he took paper home on August 17
He made hole with needle and sharp tool, inserted mobile camera, recorded video
Sold content for Rs 11,000 to Ajay Nayak and two others; Nayak passed to four others
Arrested accused with ages and hometowns: Sonkesariya 38 from Seoni MP; Nayak 20 from Baloda Bazar; Tridev 22 Mahasamund; Nitin 22 Bastar; Anuj 22 Jashpur; Aditya 20 Balod
Police recovered Rs 11,000 cash, six mobile phones, video recording device, cables, needles, etc.
1,200 students from 27 colleges appeared for exam
Exam cancelled, re-test in first week of September
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai assured strict action
Framing: Headline focuses on use of endoscopic camera, emphasizing method; omits other aspects like exam cancellation. — Investigation-focused, concerned - 'disturbing can of worms'
Facts Included:
Six arrested in BSc agriculture paper leak at IGKV
Question paper copied without opening sealed envelope using endoscopic camera inserted after incision
Camera scanned contents; paper converted to images and circulated on WhatsApp about two hours before exam
Kawardha Agriculture College received email at 8.41 am; university officials at 8.54 am
Raipur Crime DCP Smritik Rajnala said six arrested including professor Yogesh Sonkesariya and five students who purchased paper for Rs 12,000 each (note: says 12,000, different from other sources)
Sonkesariya pierced envelope with needle and pointed tool, inserted Rs 2,500 endoscopy camera, recorded paper
Exam cancelled, rescheduled first week of Sept
1,200 students from 27 colleges
CM Vishnu Deo Sai ordered strict probe, university constituted five-member committee
Govt ordered wider review of question-paper security
Police commissioner Sanjeev Shukla constituted force of more than 100 personnel
FIR under Chhattisgarh Public Examination Act 2008 and BNS sections
Two suspects absconding; more than 16 people questioned
Police probing if wider network and whether paper sold to more students
Also probing other papers including Plant Pathology
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimRaipur police arrested six people, including a professor, in connection with the leak of the B.Sc. Agriculture Entomology examination paper of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University (IGAU) on August 20.
ClaimThe alleged mastermind, 38-year-old Yogesh Sonkesariya, is a professor at Bharti Agriculture College in Durg, where he has been employed since 2019.
ClaimAn FIR was registered against the accused under Sections 4, 5 and 10 of the Chhattisgarh Public Examination Act, 2008, and Section 316 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
ClaimOn August 17, Sonkesariya came to the Agricultural College at Jora, Raipur, to submit answer sheets from his college, and after submitting them, he collected question papers for examinations scheduled over the following week, including the Entomology paper.
ClaimSonkesariya purchased a thin endoscope camera, made a small hole in the sealed envelope using a needle and copied approximately 15 questions by identifying and ordering words visible through the device.
ClaimDeputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone) Tarkeshwar Patel said the investigation established the source of the leak and the identities of all accused after 36 hours of continuous field and technical work.
ClaimPolice seized Rs 11,000 in cash, six mobile phones, a video-recording device, cable wires, a mobile connector, a needle, a sharp instrument, a notebook and adhesive from the accused.
ClaimThe examination — scheduled from 10 am to 1 pm across all 28 agricultural colleges under IGAU, with around 1,200 students appearing — was cancelled that evening.
ClaimFollowing the leak, the university revised its protocol for Saturday's first-year examination: the question paper was sent by email, accessible only through a One-Time Password (OTP) shortly before the examination.
ClaimRegistrar Dr Kapil Dev Deepak said: 'It is a lapse on the part of the college. We are taking suggestions from the police and a committee has been constituted to improve the system.'
ClaimDeputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Cyber) Smritik Rajnala said more than 100 police personnel were deployed across teams sent to Kabirdham, Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur and adjoining districts.
ClaimThe B.Sc Agriculture first-year Plant Pathology examination held on August 7 was cancelled after a police investigation confirmed that the paper had been leaked.
ClaimThe Plant Pathology exam will be re-conducted in the first week of September; the re-test for the Entomology paper is also slated for the same period.
ClaimThe university initiated action against Bharatiya Agricultural College, Durg, for allegedly failing to ensure confidentiality of the examination, and a notice has been issued to the college.
ClaimShow-cause notices have been issued to the observers appointed by the university for the August 20 second-year Entomology examination and the August 7 first-year Plant Pathology examination at the Durg college.
ClaimFollowing the August 20 incident, question papers for the August 22 B.Sc examinations were sent to colleges through password-protected email, replacing physical copies; papers for the 10 am examination were provided to colleges at 9:30 am.
ClaimThe question paper was allegedly copied without opening the sealed envelope, using an endoscopic camera inserted after making an incision in the envelope.
ClaimThe scanned paper was converted into images or copies that were passed on to students and circulated on WhatsApp about two hours before the Entomology examination was scheduled to begin.
ClaimThe arrested suspects include Yogesh Sonkesariya, a professor of a private college in Durg, and five students who allegedly purchased the leaked paper for Rs 12,000 each.
ClaimSonkesariya pierced the envelope with a needle and another pointed tool, inserted a Rs 2,500 endoscopy camera through the tiny opening and recorded the paper inside.
ClaimThe leak surfaced on Aug 20, when the question paper began circulating on WhatsApp shortly before the exam; the contents matched the paper distributed at examination centres, triggering alarm.
ClaimRaipur police commissioner Sanjeev Shukla constituted a force of more than 100 personnel after a complaint was lodged at Telibandha police station.
ClaimCrime and cyber teams examined screenshots, WhatsApp messages, social-media posts, mobile numbers, digital contacts and location data in an attempt to trace the first point of circulation.
ClaimInvestigators said they were in the process of reconstructing the distribution chain — from where the sealed paper was accessed, who first scanned it, how it was transmitted and who ultimately received it.
ClaimThe police said they were also probing whether the six arrested accused were part of a wider network and whether the leaked paper was sold or circulated to more students beyond those already identified.
ClaimThe sleuths said they were also looking beyond the August 20 Entomology examination, probing claims that another BSc Agriculture paper — first-year Plant Pathology exam, scheduled earlier in August, may also have been compromised.
ClaimThe cyber team examined the leaked paper, screenshots, photographs, messages and social media posts and traced its circulation to Anuj Minj, a student from Durg.
ClaimAccording to the complaint filed by N R Rangare, senior scientist and in-charge of IGKV's undergraduate examination cell, an email claiming that the paper had been leaked was received by the Agriculture College and Research Centre in Kawardha at 8.41 am on August 20.
ClaimPolice registered a case against unidentified persons under the Chhattisgarh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2008, and Section 316 of the Bharatiya Nyasa Sanhita relating to criminal breach of trust.
ClaimThe professor allegedly sold the captured paper for ₹11,000 to Ajay Nayak and two other students, following which the questions were shared with other students.
ClaimStrict disciplinary action will also be taken against students of the college detained by Raipur Police in connection with the August 20 paper leak.
7 outlets · 8 articles consulted: CNBC TV18, Free Press Journal, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, Outlook India, ThePrint, The Times of India48 claims extractedVersion 2Written 2026-08-24