Hyderabad: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) probing irregularities into Eamcet-2 on Thursday officially announced that the question paper was leaked in advance. Nearly 56,000 students, including 18,000 from Andhra Pradesh, wrote the test on July 9.

In a press note, the CID stated that two sets of question papers were given to students in advance. Camps were set up in at least five cities two to three days prior to the exam and the students were made to practice the two question papers and their corresponding answers.

So far a few brokers and sub-brokers belonging to Hyderabad, Bengaluru and other places, including Andhra Pradesh, have been identified. Two persons, Vishnu-dhar alias Vishnuvar-dhan and Thirumal alias Thirumal Rao, both from Hyderabad, were arrested on Thursday.

Coaching centre at LB Nagar in dock
Following the government’s decision, DGP Anurag Sharma had ordered the CID to conduct a probe into the paper leak. After preliminary probe, the CID registered a case under Sections 420, 406, 408 read with 120 (B) of IPC and under Section 8 of the A.P. Public Examinations (Prevention Of Malpractices And Unfair Means) Act on July 25.

On Thursday morning, DGP Sharma was in a closed meeting with CID officials regarding progress of the probe. It was being speculated that all the accused would be brought before the press later in the afternoon, but it was postponed to Friday when Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will take stock of the situation and take a final decision.

Earlier on Wednesday, CID officials had found that 60 to 70 students had been given the question papers well in advance. They are suspecting the role of another 60 students in the issue. A coaching centre in LB Nagar was believed to be a camp for some students to practise the question papers.

The same coaching centre’s Khammam branch director’s role is being probed as his daughter secured 23rd rank in TS Eamcet-1 while in AP Eamcet her rank was 13,000 plus.