ED begins probe against kingpins

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started investigations into the alleged moneylaundering aspect of the cashfor-results, intermediate toppers’ scam in the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), that rocked the state in 2016. This was confirmed by Anil Rawal, ED spokesperson.

An official source told HT on Friday that the ED, Patna zonal office, had started a separate probe into the scam after registering a money laundering case against those arrested, based on the case registered by Patna’s Kotwali police, last year.

In 2016, the BSEB intermediate examination results threw up a slew of unlikely toppers, including Ruby Roy, who topped the arts stream, but failed to answer basic questions posed by the media and later by experts fielded by the BSEB.

Following an uproar, the state government had constituted an SIT, which arrested 32 persons, including BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, his wife, Usha Sinha, and a number of other officials. The probe unearthed evidence to show money was paid on behalf of some candidates to officials to secure top marks in the exam.

As per the chargesheet filed, Lalkeshwar, his wife and director and principal of Vishun Rai College, Vaishali, Bachcha Roy, were the kingpins of the scam. They allegedly managed high positions in state toppers list to candidates in return for money that ranged from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh per student.

The economic offence unit (EoU) of the Bihar police had recommended a probe by the ED, following a requisition of Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj, to book the alleged culprits under prevention of money laundering act (PMLA).