Boards with photo of qn paper leak accused moved amid row

Kozhikode: Welcome boards featuring the photographs of the prime accused in the question paper leak case on the road leading to the venue of Koduvally subdistrict school arts festival sparked a controversy on Wednesday. Two dozen boards welcoming students to the arts fest were put up by Koduvally-based MS Solutions featuring its CEO Mohammed Shuhaib, who is the first accused in the case, on both sides of the road leading to Koduvally GHS school.Education department said that though the firm had approached it offering money for advertisements to be displayed near the venue, it had rejected the offer. Koduvally municipal authorities too said that boards were installed on the roadside, including on the railings of the walkway, without securing its permission."The firm had approached me directly saying it will give money if their advertisements are placed near the venue. But we said it is not possible as we knew their track record. Now they have put up boards along the public road, which is not under our control. However, we have informed municipal authorities about it," said Koduvally assistant education officer C P Abdul Khader. He added that placing advertisements of such a firm would send a wrong message and would amount to giving them recognition.After the incident triggered a row, municipal authorities removed these advertisement boards.In March this year, crime branch had arrested Shuhaib in connection with the leak of question papers involving his online tuition firm MS Solutions. Crime branch had registered the case based on the complaint filed by the director general of education with the state police chief over the leak of SSLC and Plus One English and maths question papers on YouTube before the Christmas examinations.