Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) has cancelled two engineering examinations after an internal inquiry found that question papers were allegedly shared with students before the tests. Police have arrested an assistant professor in connection with the alleged leak.
The cancelled examinations are Machine Learning for Internet of Things and Electromagnetic Field Theory, affecting students from 12 engineering institutes affiliated with the university. Fresh examinations for both subjects will now be held in the third week of August.
The accused, Ashish Kumar Gupta, an assistant professor at Shivalik College of Engineering in Dehradun, was arrested on Thursday following a complaint filed by the university’s Controller of Examinations.
Internal Inquiry Found Questions Were Shared Before Exam
According to the university, the controversy came to light after it received a complaint regarding the Machine Learning for Internet of Things examination. An internal inquiry conducted by the university and the college found that the external paper setter had allegedly shared questions identical to those in the examination through the institution’s internal portal and WhatsApp before the test.
The inquiry also raised concerns that another paper prepared by the same faculty member, Electromagnetic Field Theory, may also have been compromised.
University Controller of Examinations Dr. V.K. Patel said the examinations had been cancelled to maintain the integrity of the evaluation process.
“The cancelled examinations for both subjects will be re-conducted during the third week of August 2026. All institutions are requested to immediately inform the concerned students so that they can prepare for the re-examinations,” the university said in its order.
Professor Debarred for Seven Years, College Terminates Services
Following the inquiry, the university barred Gupta from all examination-related work for the next seven years.
“The paper setter has been debarred with immediate effect from all examination-related work of the University for the next seven years,” the order stated.
The university also issued a warning to Shivalik College of Engineering, saying it had failed to maintain “adequate supervision and institutional control.”
Meanwhile, the college terminated Gupta’s services with immediate effect.
College Director Dr. T.S. Sidhu alleged that the assistant professor had shared around 50 questions with students through a WhatsApp group before the examination.
“In view of the university’s findings and considering the seriousness of the misconduct, your actions constitute a grave breach of trust and professional ethics,” the college said in the termination letter.
Police Register Case, Investigation Underway
Police have registered a case against Gupta and launched an investigation into the alleged paper leak.
Dehradun Superintendent of Police (City) Pramod Kumar said the university submitted reports from two internal inquiries to the police.
“The inquiries concluded that the question papers were provided to students with the intention of securing undue financial gain. A case has been registered against Dr. Ashish Kumar Gupta, and further investigation is underway,” Kumar said.
Officials said police will investigate whether anyone else was involved in the alleged leak.
Fresh Questions Over Examination Security
The alleged paper leak has once again raised concerns about the security of university examinations and the safeguards in place to protect confidential question papers.
While the university has ordered fresh examinations and taken disciplinary action against the accused faculty member, thousands of students who had already appeared for the two papers will now have to take the examinations again in August.
The revised examination schedule is expected to be uploaded on the university’s official website soon.
