Mass cheating in board exams has been reported in Bihar for years. (AFP File Photo)
With the noose tightening around him, Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh resigned on Wednesday in connection with 10+2 toppers' scandal even as the state government overhauled the state board with new appointments.
Patna Commissioner Anand Kishore was on Wednesday made Administrator of the BSEB, highly placed sources in the Education minister's office said.
Anoop Sinha replaces incumbent Harihar Nath Jha as Secretary of BSEB, Education minister Ashok Choudhary told PTI.
With evidence of irregularities in the toppers muddle following police investigation, Singh tendered his resignation.
"We have received the resignation letter of Board Chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh," Mr Choudhary said.
The minister said a show-cause notice was served to Singh as to why he should not be removed from the post for the irregularities committed in +2 plus examination results.
Mr Singh was asked to give reply within 24 hours to the department. His resignation came before the deadline ended.
Hours after resignation, police said Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh has gone underground.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) under Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj raided Singh's home.
Earlier, the SSP himself visited BSEB office and questioned some officials and checked documents.
Mr Maharaj told reporters at BSEB office, "Prima facie, anomalies have been found in the toppers scandal."
Police action was witnessed in Vaishali district too where the controversial Bishun Rai Intermediate college from where Arts and Science toppers Ruby Ray and Saurabh Shrestha hailed from.
Separate notice was pasted at the residence of four toppers Ruby Ray, Saurabh Shrestha, Rahul Kumar and Shalini Ray asking them to present themselves before SIT.
SSP Patna, who is supervising the police action in the toppers muddle, said four persons have been detained by the police in the case lodged by the education department against seven persons on Monday night.
Bihar has drawn a bad name across the country after the scandal surfaced following a video featuring Arts topper Ruby Ray and first ranker in Science Saurabh Shreshth went viral in which both the students of Vishun Rai College were seen giving ridiculous answers to questions on their subjects.
Ruby Ray had called Political science as "Prodigal Science" which according to her teaches cooking.
Likewise, Saurabh sounded unaware of electron and proton.