Asst professor held for stealing blank answer sheets

The HAL police have arrested an assistant professor of a government first grade college for stealing blank answer sheets of Bangalore University degree examination, to settle scores with the principal of a private college.

Shivakumar Boraiah, 38, a resident of KPWD quarters, JB Nagar and an assistant professor of English at Government First Grade College, Vijayanagar in the City, stole four answer sheets issued to examinees at New Horizon College (NHC) at Kadubisanahalli (near Marathalli), to defame NHC principal, Bodhisatva, police said.

The University had appointed Shivakumar to the sitting squad for NHC during the exams held between November 7 and 26. He had a tiff with Bodhisatva and decided to seek revenge against him. He thought he could fix the accountability for theft of answer sheets on Bodhisatva, so that BU could take action against him. He stole four sheets misusing his powers in the sitting squad, added the police.

Calls to police, varsity
The police control room received a call on December 2 and the caller claimed that a few BU answer sheets were found at Triveni Wine Shop near Marathalli bridge. The HAL police went to the spot and seized four blank answer sheets. On being informed, BU Registrar (Evaluation) lodged a complaint with the local police, a police officer said.

Shivakumar had called up the police control room to inform about the scripts from a coin booth. Minutes later, he called up BU Registrar (Evaluation) from the same coin booth and informed about the scripts.

The police collected footages of CCTV cameras in and around the coin booth and noticed suspicious movements of Shivakumar. Later, he was picked up for questioning, said the police.

“This lecturer failed to understand basic policing and ended up being caught,” said a senior police officer.

 Shivakmar has been booked under IPC Sections 175 (omission to produce document or electronic record to public servant by person legally bound to produce it) and 426 (mischief), added the police.

Meanwhile, Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof B Thimme Gowda said the issue was brought before the university Syndicate members at its meeting on Friday. “The Commissioner for Department of Collegiate Education (DCE) also was present in the meeting. He has asked us to give him the details of the case. Action would be initiated against Shivakumar by DCE,” he said.