Threats, requests, prayers: How 248 Class 10 students tried to influence examiners

“During checking of answer sheets, it was found in 248 instances that the students had issued threats, made requests to examiners to give pass marks or written texts such as names of Gods or prayers as identification codes,” Gosavi said.

He said results of 95 students were withheld pending further inquiries, including 67 from the Mumbai division, 25 from Aurangabad and two from Nagpur.

“These were cases of copying, issuing threats to the examiner or other errors that required summoning of the invigilator or examination centre head. We are in the process of wrapping up the inquiries and the results will be announced soon,” Gosavi said.

The board had run an “Copy Free Exam” campaign during the exams held in February-March and roped in several government agencies to prevent copying during the examination or leaking of question papers.

It had also appointed 271 flying squads to conduct surprise checks at the exam centres while district-level vigilance committees were formed under District Collectors. Also, to avoid paper leaks, the journeys of runners carrying question paper packets were filmed and monitored on GPS, until they reached the exam centres and the packets were opened.