AP Government Defends P Narayana's Arrest In Exam Paper Leak

Strongly defending the arrest of TDP leader Dr P Narayana, the founder of the Narayana Group of Educational Institutions, in the Class X question paper leak and mass copying case, Government Advisor (Public Affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said that through the arrest the State had sent a strong and unprecedented message that all were equal before the law.

He also asserted that the government was not vindictive as being projected by a section of the media.

Addressing the media today, Sajjala said that the State government had taken action against Narayana after a thorough investigation.

"Narayana turned copying and other malpractices into an organized crime, and emerged as a specialist in encouraging mass copying and question paper leaks to break records in achieving 100% pass percentage. All such evil practices were encouraged during Chandrababu Naidu's regime. The Chief Minister will not support such malpractices, as they will impact the students' future," Sajjala said.

Sajjala pointed out that even a close associate and relative of the Chief Minister, Y S Konda Reddy, had also been arrested in another case, as the government believed that all were equal before the law.

He claimed that the arrests justified the mandate given to Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy by the people by rejecting Chandrababu Naidu and his governance that failed to check the malpractice.

He slammed the opposition for falsely accusing the government of being vindictive, and reiterated that no one was above the law.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana said that the law would take its own course in the question paper leakage case.

"We have arrested some 60 persons in the case, of which 22 are from private institutions, including the Vice Principal of a Narayana school," he said.