Punjab paper leak row intensifies after Dharmendra Pradhan’s exit; BJP targets AAP, Mann rejects allegations

The political battle over alleged exam paper leaks has shifted to Punjab following Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union education minister, with the BJP and opposition parties accusing the AAP government of failing to prevent multiple examination leaks. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has, however, firmly denied the allegations, insisting that no competitive exam paper has been leaked during AAP’s four-and-a-half years in power.

The controversy comes weeks after Pradhan stepped down amid nationwide protests over the NEET-UG paper leak. Citing his resignation as an example of accountability, BJP leaders questioned why Punjab’s Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains had not followed suit.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed six to seven exam papers had leaked in Punjab and accused the AAP leadership, including Arvind Kejriwal, of failing to uphold promises of accountability. Similar demands for Bains’ resignation have been raised by former Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Responding to the criticism, Mann said reports of widespread paper leaks were false. He acknowledged that authorities had uncovered cheating in the recently held pharmacy officer examination but stressed it was an organised cheating racket—not a paper leak. According to the chief minister, 21 people have been arrested after candidates allegedly used Bluetooth-enabled devices to receive answers during the exam.

Meanwhile, AAP leaders have continued to hail Pradhan’s resignation as a victory for student protests. Mann said the movement had forced a “stubborn government” to bow, while Kejriwal described the resignation as “a big win for democracy.”

Pradhan resigned after the cancellation of the May 3 NEET-UG examination over a paper leak, with Pralhad Joshi taking additional charge of the Education Ministry.