VAO exam cheating row: Four Haveri head constables suspended

Haveri: Four head constables have been suspended and disciplinary action recommended against three senior police officers following alleged security lapses in the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) recruitment examination in Haveri district. The action follows allegations that a candidate used a mobile phone inside the examination hall and secured 151 marks.

Superintendent of Police Yashoda Vantagodi said the suspended head constables were Marennavar, Honnali, Manakawad and Naganur. A circle police inspector and two police sub-inspectors have also been recommended for disciplinary action over alleged dereliction of duty. Notices have been issued to four police personnel and four education department employees deployed at the examination centre.

Cheating candidate taken into custody

Police have registered a first information report (FIR) against Shankar Bannur, a resident of Hangal, who is accused of using a mobile phone during the examination. He has been taken into custody for questioning. Investigators are checking his call detail records to find out whether he communicated with anyone while writing the examination.

Investigators, led by Additional Superintendent of Police Lakshman Shirakol, are examining closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the centre. Officials are trying to establish how the mobile phone entered the examination hall and whether security staff and invigilators failed to detect it.

The authorities have recommended action against examination centre chief Ramakant Bhat, room invigilator Basavaraj Savadi, dress-code officer Raju Dundappanavar and observer Shivanna.

The SP also addressed a claim by another candidate, Satish Lamani, that Shankar had not appeared for the examination. She said Lamani would be served a notice and called for questioning. If he had evidence to support his claim, he should submit it to the authorities, she said, warning that legal action would be taken against those spreading false or unverified information.

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