A major impersonation was foiled at a D.El.Ed first-year exam centre in Gwalior on June 22 when an invigilator caught a man writing the English paper in place of the registered candidate, police said. The impostor has been identified as the candidate’s uncle, who told investigators he took the test because his nephew’s English was weak.

The paper was being held at the Government Higher Secondary School for Boys in Kalpi Bridge Colony, under Gola ka Mandir police station. The student assigned roll number 36141704, Monu Dhakad, was expected in Room 1 for the English paper, but invigilator Meena Dhakad noticed a mismatch between the face in the exam hall and the photo on the admit card and Aadhaar. That prompted a closer check.

When asked to produce identity documents, the man presented Monu’s admit card and Aadhaar but the photograph did not match. He was identified as Santosh Dhakad, son of Ramvilas Dhakad, a resident of village Chauki, Kailaras. Santosh was detained and handed over to police after the centre chief and officials were informed, police said.

During questioning, Santosh told officers that Monu is his nephew and that he had gone to take the English paper on Monu’s behalf because the nephew’s command of English was poor. He claimed he had not realised the act would amount to a serious offence. Authorities have registered a case under fraud and the examination act and launched an investigation.

Gola ka Mandir station in-charge Dharmendra Yadav said the impersonation was prevented thanks to the vigilance of the invigilator. Police are now probing whether any monetary transaction or prior arrangement took place between the two. Both the person who impersonated the candidate and the one who supplied the identity details will face legal action if the probe confirms the offence, officials said.

Why it matters: impersonation undermines the credibility of competitive and professional examinations and can have wider consequences for institutions and candidates; timely detection by invigilators is critical to maintain exam integrity.