Time running out for BSEB ex-chief, wife made co-accused

Patna Police have petitioned a designated court for an arrest warrant against Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, former chairman of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), who is absconding since he was made an accused in the intermediate toppers’ scam that has rocked the state.

Singh resigned from his post last Wednesday hours after the state education department served him a second show cause notice.

“His wife has been made a co-accused, as her role has also come under the scanner following interrogation of arrested persons,” Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said.

Singh’s wife Usha Sinha, a former Janata Dal (United) MLA from Hilsa, is also on the run.

Maharaj said police arrested two more people - Sandeep Kumar Jha, an employee of Sanskrit Shiksha Board posted in Bhagalpur, and Ajit Shaktiman, an ad hoc teacher in Patna College’s department of sociology who is considered very close to the BSEB ex-chief - in connection with the case on Sunday.

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“When Singh was with the department of geography in PU, Ajit worked with him. Jha was also brought to the board on deputation and the two worked for the chairman. They have also admitted this during their interrogation,” he added.

So far, eight people have been arrested in this connection.

A senior police official said that raids were on to nab the absconding chairman.

“There is a possibility that he may have taken shelter in neighbouring Nepal. But once the warrant is issued, he cannot keep running for long. All the evidence point to board’s complicity and the chairman cannot deny it,” he added.

Bachcha Rai, the arrested principal of VR College (Vaishali), has not revealed much to the police during his interrogation, Maharaj said.

“He continues to be evasive in his replies and says he has no accountability for whatever has happened. We will take him on remand for a more thorough interrogation,” the SSP said.

According to police sources, recovery of stamped answer books of Bihar board from Rai’s residence has given ample evidence of his complicity in the scam.

“Further investigation is on as Rai has amassed huge property and wealth, the source of which he would have to explain. There was a whole nexus involved in it,” they added.

The controversy broke out late last month when a television channel showed Rubi Ray – Bihar’s topper in political science – unable to answer the most basic questions pertaining to her chosen academic discipline.