Karachi police have dismantled an organized network that defrauded over 1,300 students by selling purportedly leaked Matric and Intermediate Board examination papers. Four members of the operation were arrested on Monday after an investigation by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU).
The Scale of the Operation
The network operated through a system of 10 WhatsApp groups, designed to distribute exam papers the night before scheduled tests. According to SIU Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Samiullah Soomro, the suspects initially established eight groups before police discovered two additional ones during the probe.
Students were notified via these groups that leaked papers were available through the administrator. To obtain the documents, interested students were directed to send direct messages to the admins, with payments collected through various online mediums.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence
During interrogation, a suspect revealed that the papers were not actual leaks but were instead created using AI. By synthesizing previous examination materials and guess papers, the suspect generated new versions to sell to students.
This method explains why the papers were not 100% accurate. The suspects leveraged this high degree of similarity to convince students of the papers’ authenticity while collecting millions of rupees in exchange.
Ongoing Investigation and Evidence
Police conducted arrests across several areas, including Malir, Surjani Town, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and New Karachi. During these raids, authorities recovered mobile phones, hard drives, cash, and transaction records.
Investigators have also identified that the primary phone number used to manage the network was registered in the United Kingdom. Efforts are currently underway to obtain further details regarding this account.
SSP Soomro noted that the police suspect some individuals from the Matric and Intermediate Boards may have been involved in the network, potentially providing the initial access or information used by the suspects.
Next Steps in Legal Proceedings
The SIU is scheduled to present the suspects in court on Tuesday to seek their physical remand. Further investigation may lead to the identification of the remaining ringleaders from the ten identified groups.
The case could potentially expand if the suspected links to board officials are verified, which may lead to additional arrests or policy changes within the examination boards.
For more on the challenges facing students, see students cry foul over sudden curveball or read about how matric exams off to a troubled start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many students were affected by this network?
Over 1,300 students were added to the WhatsApp groups used by the network to sell the papers.
How did the suspects create the “leaked” papers?
One suspect confessed to using artificial intelligence to generate the papers based on guess papers and past examination materials.
Where were the suspects arrested?
The arrests took place in Malir, Surjani Town, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and New Karachi.
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