Shivamogga: Even as serious allegations have emerged regarding the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) regional office in Shivamogga, its regional director BM Swamy has rejected the allegations.It was charged that money was paid to secure degrees at an exam centre near Alkola Circle here for undergraduate and postgraduate degree exams. It was alleged that the staff indulged in malpractice, including staff collecting money to allow copying with books and cellphones. Students are also said to have paid around Rs 1,000 per subject via digital payment modes after the exams. It was charged that special arrangements were provided on the second floor of the exam centre with cellphones for those who paid money, while others were given first floor.Swamy, in a statement, stated that no such exam irregularities were ever permitted at their centre. He explained that university guidelines were strictly enforced. Students were made to leave cellphones, books, and smartwatches outside the exam hall, he said, adding the claims of charging money for students attending the exam on the second floor are completely far from the truth since students must sit strictly according to their assigned room numbers.He questioned the authenticity of classroom videos by pointing out how easy it is to generate AI videos of classrooms.Claiming that he visited exam rooms during exams, Swamy said he will bring the matter to the attention of higher officers of the university.
