Results declared void after she fails to answer questions posed by panel

Ruby Rai, topper in the Humanities stream in the Bihar Intermediate examinations held earlier this year, was arrested on Saturday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) as she emerged from a re-test conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), Senior Superintendent of Police and head of the SIT, Manu Maharaj said.

Ms Rai’s exam results were also declared void as she couldn’t answer any of the questions posed by the Board’s panel of experts.

Earlier on Saturday, a Patna court issued a non-bailable warrant against the four toppers of the intermediate examination, including Ruby. Science topper Saurbabh Shrestha, third topper Rahul Kumar and Shalini Rai, daughter of Vishun Roy College Principal Bachha Rai, are the other three against whom the arrest warrant was issued.

Questioned by panel

Ms Rai had failed to appear before the Board which had summoned all 14 top ranking students for a re-test conducted by a panel of experts on June 3. She was told to appear on June 11 but did not do so, saying she had gone into depression and was under treatment.

The Board then issued the last date for her appearance on June 25. Ms Rai arrived at the venue alone and was questioned for over an hour by the panel of seven experts.

A team of the SIT investigating the scam arrested her as soon as the panel concluded the re-test. She was taken to the Patna women’s police station where she was questioned by police officials.

The SIT has lodged an FIR against three top ranking students, Ruby Rai, Saurabh Shresth and Rahul Kumar. The results of Saurabh Shresth and Rahul Kumar too, have, earlier, been declared cancelled.

‘Huge money involved’

“Altogether 17 persons have, so far, been arrested in the Intermediate result scam and others will be arrested soon. The arrested persons have admitted that huge money was involved into making toppers and awarding first divisions in exams, and giving affiliation to the private colleges,” Mr. Maharaj told The Hindu.

Since the scam, over 300 employees of the BSEB have been transferred and 27 were suspended for dereliction in duty by the new BSEB chairman Anand Kishore.