RAIPUR: In the midst of Madhya Pradesh’s infamous Vyapam scam, Chhattisgarh's school education minister, Kedar Kashyap, has been caught in fresh controversy over someone impersonating his wife, Shanti Kashyap, and appearing for her in the MA English final exam of Open University on Tuesday.

According to officials, the impersonation was noticed by Hemrao Khaparde, exam centre in-charge of Lohandiguda high school in Bastar, where the exam was scheduled. Since there was a mismatch between the appearance of the impersonator appearing for the exam and Shanti Kashyap’s photograph in the university records, the in-charge immediately informed vice chancellor of the Open University of the discrepancy.

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Talking to media, Khaparde said the lady who appeared for the exam was not Shanti Kashyap. He said her husband’s name was mentioned in the records as Kedar Kashyap. After he pointed out at the impersonation, the lady fled the centre, leaving the answer sheet behind.

When contacted Pt Sundarlal Sharma (Open) University vice chancellor, Bansh Gopal said he had received the photo of the person who appeared for the exam and after examining it, he too was of the opinion that she was not Shanti Kashyap. He said an inquiry has been instituted into the incident.

When contacted, minister Kedar Kashyap refused to say anything on the plea that he wasn’t aware of any such incident as he is in Champaran.

These serious ‘Munna Bhai’ type allegations against the minister comes at a time when several senior bureaucrats and politicians in Madhya Pradesh have been accused of securing high marks for their wards and relatives by getting them impersonated in exams conducted by Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal (VYAPAM). The muti-crore rupees Vyapam scam, which has seen deaths of many eyewitnesses and accused, is being investigated by the CBI.