CAT on Feb 15

The Common Admission Test (CAT), which was cancelled following a question paper leak on Sunday, will now be held on February 15.  The decision was taken at a meeting of the directors of the six Indian Institute of Management on Wednesday.

The harassment suffered by CAT candidates because of the leak could, however, have been prevented three years ago.

Reports from Patna suggest Ranjit Singh alias Ranjit Don’s involvement in the leak came to light three years ago.  In 2000, question papers of the All-India Medical Entrance Examination, conducted by the CBSE, were looted in Patna by a gang allegedly connected to Ranjit, believed to be the kingpin of the CAT racket.

The case was hushed up, however, after a high-profile police officer allegedly intervened. Ranjit was let off the hook because of his proximity to powerful politicians and police officers.

He used to say he would contest against Samata party leader George Fernandes in the 1999 parliamentary elections on a Rashtriya Janata Dal ticket.

Ranjit reportedly helped a Bihar minister buy a flat in Mumbai recently.

In the May 2000 incident, the gang had looted the question papers from Yadunandan Singh, the principal of a school in Patna, who was on his way to an examination centre.  The Patna district magistrate had ordered an enquiry and the principal was suspended.

The gang reportedly photocopied the papers and returned them to the principal, who reached the examination center just in time.