Put ₹100 note in answer sheet, you won't fail: UP principal's tip to students

A school principal in Uttar Pradesh was arrested on Wednesday (February 20) after a video of him asking students to cheat in board exam went viral on social media.

In the video, Praveen Mall, principal of a private school in Mau, is seen giving tips to students on cheating in board exams.

One of the student secretly filmed the principal’s speech and uploaded it on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s grievance portal. While talking to the students, in front of the parents, the principal, who is also the manager of Harivansh Memorial Inter College, said, “Write your exam with the help of cheating and maintain discipline when your ‘chit’ is caught’.”

“Don’t leave any answers. Just put a ₹100 note in the answer sheet… the teachers will blindly give you marks. Even if you answer a question wrongly, which is for four marks, they will give you three marks,” he is heard saying in the two-minute-long video.

Further stressing the students do not be scared if they get caught, he said, “I can challenge that none of my students will fail. They have nothing to be scared of. You can talk among yourselves and write the papers. Don’t touch anyone’s hands. You speak to each other… that is fine. Don’t be scared. The teachers at your government school exam center’s are my friends. Even if you get caught and someone gives you a slap or two, don’t be scared. Just bear with them.” He concludes with Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

Reacting to the incident, Mau District Magistrate Gyan Prakash Tripathi said, “We have taken cognizance of the matter. Stringent action will be taken after investigating the matter.”

Reports claimed that this year UP government has made extensive arrangements to put a check on mass cheating. Over 56 lakh candidates from Class 10 and Class 12 are appearing for the state board exams.