The leakage of Common Proficiency Test (CPT) question papers came as a rude shock not only for the candidates but also for the Chartered Accountants of Bangalore.

Just hours before the exam on Monday, a private TV Channel aired the sting operation revealing how the question papers were leaked. As a result, the entire exam was cancelled all over India, leaving the candidates high and dry. The exam is now rescheduled on August 26.

A candidate Sudhir said, the candidates from all over the country are suffering for the deeds of some selfish elements. “The exam, that was considered to be fair, is also not free from malpractices. This exam is no exception to the evil of corruption and greed, which has taken root in every sphere of our system,” said Sudhir.

A prominent CA of the City G V Sunder said, leakage of question papers is certainly shocking but it is nothing unusual. “Seven years ago, the question papers were leaked and when I had appeared for the exam thirty years ago, the papers were leaked. But the most important point is that the exams are cancelled at country level even if the authorities get a little stink of leakage of question papers at some local areas,” said Mr Sunder. He added that exams are conducted afresh within a fortnight of cancelling the previous examination.

Another CA V Shivashankar too said he was surprised that the CPT question papers were leaked but added that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) shouldn’t be blamed for it. “The ICAI should not be blamed for the deeds of some people at the lower level,” he said.

High-power panel
Meanwhile, the national president of the ICAI Sunil Talati said that a high power committee has been constituted to investigate the leakage of question papers. “As soon as we learnt about the leakage of question papers, we cancelled the examination and constituted a high power committee to investigate the matter. The exams would now take place on August 26,” said Mr Talati.

He said, nearly 82 thousand candidates from all over the country are appearing for the examination and of them, around 4,000 candidates are from the State. Talati said, the ICAI has taken measures to prevent any such incidents in future. “The man who is seen in the film selling the question paper is absconding with the family,” he added.