The Kerala High Court recently dismissed the anticipatory bail application of Zainul Abideen Karumbil, the fifth accused in a case involving the leakage of Class 10 and Plus One examination question papers through a YouTube channel named M.S. Solutions. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, presiding over the case, ruled that custodial interrogation was necessary due to the gravity of the allegations.
Background of the Case
The case, registered under Crime No. 2097 of 2024 by the Kozhikode Crime Branch, involves charges under Sections 316(2), 316(3), 316(5), 318(2), 318(4), 61(2)(a), 112(1)(2), and 283 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The prosecution alleged that the accused leaked question papers for the 1st and 2nd term examinations of Class 10 (English and Social Science) and Plus One (Mathematics) on the eve of the public exams.
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The petitioner, Zainul Abideen Karumbil, claimed innocence, stating that he was merely a peon in the school and had no access to the question papers. His counsel argued that he was willing to cooperate with the investigation and comply with any bail conditions imposed by the court.
However, the prosecution countered this claim, asserting that Karumbil was actually a Mathematics teacher who conducted online classes through the M.S. Solutions YouTube channel. They emphasized the seriousness of the charges, which included offences punishable with life imprisonment, and stressed the necessity of custodial interrogation to uncover the full extent of the leak.
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Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas noted the conflicting claims about the petitioner’s role but sided with the prosecution’s argument regarding the severity of the allegations. The court observed:
"Since the allegations against the petitioner are serious, I am of the view that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is necessary."
The court also highlighted the broader implications of the case, stating that leaking question papers undermines the integrity of the education system and unfairly disadvantages honest students.
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While dismissing the anticipatory bail plea, the court provided a conditional directive: if the petitioner surrenders before the Investigating Officer on July 18, 2025, and is arrested after interrogation, he must be produced before the jurisdictional Magistrate the same day. Any subsequent bail application would then be considered as per legal provisions.
This case follows a similar ruling in March 2025, where the High Court denied anticipatory bail to Shuhaib, the founder of M.S. Solutions, for leaking Class 10 English question papers. The court had then remarked:
"Leakage of question paper is a clear case of cheating against the student community who studied well and came to the examination hall to write their examinations with a 'finger cross'. Therefore, the sanctity of examination is to be maintained in the education system."
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The repeated incidents of exam paper leaks underscore the need for stricter safeguards to protect the credibility of public examinations and ensure fairness for all students.
Case Title: Zainul Abideen Karumbil vs. State Of Kerala and another [BAIL APPL. NO. 7353 OF 2025]
Counsel for Petitioner: Advocates S Rajeev, V Vinay, M S Aneer, Sarath K P, Anilkumar C R, K S Kiran Krishnan, Dipa V, Akash Cherian Thomas
Counsel for Respondent: Public Prosecutor Prasanth M P