Kerala Police Investigate Online Channels Luring Students With Exam Clue Promises
The Kerala Police have initiated a preliminary probe into several online tutorial channels that are suspected of exploiting the examination anxiety of school students and their parents. The General Education department on Sunday petitioned State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar for a detailed criminal inquiry into specific Instagram and YouTube channels that promise students definitive clues about the Onam mid-term test papers.
An estimated 40 lakh students from Class I to higher secondary are currently taking the Onam examinations, which are scheduled to conclude on August 20. The department’s petition highlights growing concerns over the influence of such channels on young learners.
A senior police official confirmed that the State Police Chief may order a Crime Branch inquiry. The official said a report has been sought from the Kerala Police Cyber Cell, including details of digital financial transactions linked to these channels. The police will also verify whether any errant teachers involved in the question-setting process are behind the racket.
Officials said the investigation will also examine whether these channels are using the lure of examination clues and leaked question papers to trick students and parents into sharing personal information such as e-mails, phone numbers, and credit card details. This, they noted, could be part of a larger and illegal data-harvesting operation.
Another official said cases would be registered if the inquiries reveal violations of the Information Technology Act or the Public Examinations Act, which carry penalties of up to ten years’ imprisonment and significant fines. The police are also expected to approach service providers to take down such fraudulent channels from social media platforms.
Some of the online tuition channels under scrutiny have claimed to possess access to question papers and offered pointers on likely areas of the syllabus that students should focus on for good grades. Officials said the same channels also offered question papers prepared for model examinations, raising concerns about widespread school examination fraud.
The General Education department has meanwhile warned students and parents to remain vigilant against social media channels that entice subscriptions by falsely promising advance clues about first-term question papers. The government said such channels defeat the purpose of comprehensive school education by inducing students and parents to cut corners in pursuit of high grades.
Earlier, several teachers’ organisations had flagged the risks posed by these so-called 'educational channels.' Their false claims, the government said, could adversely affect school academics, teaching, and examination preparation. The police investigation aims to address these concerns and ensure a fair examination environment for all students.
