Investigation Launched into Peon’s Exceptional Class 10 Marks

A local court in Koppal has initiated an inquiry into the academic credentials of Prabhu Laxmikanth Lokare (23), a peon who achieved an extraordinary 99.5 percent in his Class 10 exams. Originally from Sindhanur taluk in Raichur district, Lokare’s academic prowess secured him a position at the Koppal court despite his limited formal education.

On April 22, 2024, Lokare’s name made it to the final merit list for peon recruitment, based on his remarkable class 10 performance. However, suspicions arose when court officials noted his struggles with basic reading and writing tasks.

Following these concerns, the presiding judge filed a private complaint, prompting an investigation into Lokare’s academic background. Despite his impressive marks, Lokare’s difficulties in language skills raised doubts about the authenticity of his achievements.

The FIR, lodged on April 26, highlighted the unusual leap from seventh to tenth standard and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation. The judge expressed worry that fraudulent academic records undermine the integrity of genuine merit-based selection processes.

Additionally, the judge requested police scrutiny to compare Lokare’s handwriting with his class 10 exam answer sheets, aiming to verify the legitimacy of his results.

Lokare defended his academic record, asserting that he took the class 10 exams as a private candidate in the 2017-18 academic year at an institution in Bagalkot district, under the Delhi Education Board’s supervision.