Thrissur IG caught cheating on LLM exam, told to go on leave

Aluva: A top officer of Kerala Police was caught cheating on the LLM examination and was expelled from the exam hall on Monday. He was later asked to go on leave by state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.

T.J Jose, IG of Thrissur, was allegedly caught copying while appearing for the LLM written examination of the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, at the exam venue at St. Paul’s College, Kalamassery.

The invigilator, who was not aware that he had caught a senior police officer for cheating, took his answer sheet, along with the pages from which he was cheating, and asked him to leave the examination hall.

T.J Jose, however, told the media that he had done no wrong and left the examination hall at 11.30 a.m. on his own. The exam was due from 10.00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"I have done nothing wrong and I will return for the last examination tomorrow," he said.

Terming the incident as a shame on Kerala, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the government has asked him to take voluntary leave as part of probe into the incident.

“Suresh Raj Purohit has been given temporary charge of the Thrissur range,” the minister said.

Talking to reporters, DGP Balasubramaniam said Additional Director General of Police Shankar Reddy has been asked to prepare a report after conducting a probe.

“Action will be taken against the officer after receiving the investigation report,” he said.