UTU Paper Leak: Uttarakhand Technical University Cancels Two Exams After Paper Leak, Assistant Professor Debarred for 7 Years

The Cockroach Janta Party's protest over the NEET-UG paper leak is still ongoing, and another examination paper leak has now come to light. Following the alleged leak of one of the papers by an external paper setter, Uttarakhand Technical University has cancelled two exams for the current semester. The paper setter was taken into custody on Thursday night.

The Controller of Examinations at Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University, Dehradun, Dr. V. K. Patel, stated that the university received a complaint regarding the Machine Learning for Internet of Things exam. According to the order cancelling the exams, the decision will affect students from 12 institutes affiliated with the university.

Paper Setter Debarred for Seven Years

The paper setter and an assistant professor named Ashish Kumar Gupta has been debarred with immediate effect from all examination-related work of the University for the next seven years. The leak originated at the Shivalik College of Engineering, Dehradun. He allegedly leaked approximately 50 final exam questions to students through the institution's internal portal/WhatsApp before the examination.

It is mandatory for all the affected candidates from the 12 institutes to sit for mandatory re-examinations. This was revealed during multiple committee inquiries conducted by the university and the institution that reported the leak. 

According to the reports, Electromagnetic Field Theory, another question paper set by the same faculty member, was also suspected of being leaked. The university will hold the fresh examinations in the third week of August 2026. 

Previous Paper Leak Cases in Uttarakhand

Widespread protests over the alleged leak of the Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) exam question paper were held across the state in September last year. Allegations that the question paper had been sold to candidates appearing for the UKPSC Patwari and Accountant examination, which was later cancelled, triggered another major round of protests in 2023. Soon after, the BJP government was compelled to enact laws to curb examination malpractice.