UTU paper leak triggers protests, CM Pushkar Dhami warns strict action against conspirators

While protests for the recent NEET-UG 2026 paper leak continue at Jantar Mantar, another paper leak has surfaced, this time in Uttarakhand.

Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University cancelled two of its B-Tech third-year semester examinations after an assistant professor allegedly leaked the question paper before the exams by sharing them with the students on WhatsApp. An FIR has been ordered into the matter, and the accused professor, Ashish Kumar Gupta, has been barred from all examination-related work for seven years.

Additionally, a re-examination for the two subjects has been announced in the third week of August. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has warned of strict action against those involved in the incident.

According to the university, the two B-Tech third-year semester examinations of the subject Machine Learning for Internet of Things and Electromagnetic Field Theory were conducted on July 7. However, an internal inquiry revealed that Gupta of Shivalik College of Engineering had allegedly shared questions related to the Machine Learning paper with students through WhatsApp and the college’s internal portal before the examination.

As the probe deepened further, a breach of confidentiality in the Electromagnetic Field Theory question paper also surfaced, prompting the university to cancel both the examinations with immediate effect.

UTU Vice Chancellor Tripta Thakur has directed a FIR be registered in the case and ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. The university also issued a stern warning against Shivalik College of Engineering over what is being described as the lapses in maintaining examination confidentiality. According to the FIR, the university has received a whistleblower complaint via an email alleging that the professor had shared the important questions on WhatsApp group on July 3, days before the examination, several of which allegedly matched the questions that later appeared in the exam. The university as a part of the probe, examined Gupta’s mobile phone and WhatsApp chats.Based on the available evidence, complaints and statements, the inquiry committee submitted its report on July 14, following which the university initiated disciplinary and legal action.

The leak has triggered NSUI protests flagging the leak as a threat to students’ future demanding strict action against those involved.