KATHMANDU, April 28: Gopal Bahadur Mahat, principal of Prolific Higher Secondary School in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, has been arrested.

SP Nabaraj Adhikari at District Police Range, Kathmandu, confirmed the arrest, stating that Mahat is suspected of facilitating a fake candidate to sit for the Grade XII examination.

According to him, initial investigations so far have revealed evidence implicating one student as a fake examinee. A complaint has been lodged with the Ministry of Education, alleging the presence of at least four fraudulent examinees at Prolific Higher Secondary School.

On April 25, the Ministry of Education forwarded a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting an investigation based on the symbol numbers of four individuals. According to sources at the Ministry of Education, Principal Mahat is implicated in a complaint filed with a registration firm, alleging that one person's details have been mentioned while another person's photograph was utilized on the admit card.

Of the individuals involved, two are reported to be relatives of Mahat. Currently, Mahat is in police custody at Metropolitan Police Circle, Maharajgunj. Further inquiries are underway to determine the involvement of other individuals. The Grade XII examination, which commenced on April 27, is scheduled to continue until May 9.