HYDERABAD: In a late-night high voltage drama which panned out into the early morning, Telangana Police detained Bharatiya Janata Party state president and Lok Sabha member Bandi Sanjay from his in-law's Karimnagar residence allegedly in connection with a class X, Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination question paper leak scam.

The SSC question paper for the Hindi examination had allegedly leaked on WhatsApp on Tuesday, 4 April, just minutes after the examination commenced. A day earlier on 3 April, the question paper for the Telugu examination had also allegedly been leaked. Around 5 lakh candidates appear for the SSC examination in Telangana each year.

Sanjay himself tweeted about his detention at about 12.46 am today morning with several videos which show that senior police officers from Rachakonda, first explained to him about his detention even as he asks for a warrant, then subsequently detained him forcefully amidst protests by his supporters and party activist. The arrest of the state party chief comes days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled meeting in Hyderabad. 

Sanjay was shifted to Bommalaramaram police station in Yadadri Bhuavanagiri district and later produced before a magistrate in Hanamkonda court which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days. 

Police have slapped charges under various sections of IPC including criminal conspiracy, cheating using an electronic device, criminal trespass and under various sections of the Prevention of malpractice act. Sources say that Sanjay was first detained in connection with the leak of the second paper leak since he was in touch with another accused in the case who is an invigilator at an examination centre in Vikarabad.

Other accused in the case are Prashant who is a former journalist, Srikant a data entry operator at an exam centre, Mahesh a lab technician and one driver named Ganesh Siva, the students and the names of a few minor students have also been registered in the complaint. 

The BJP was quick to react to the arrest of Sanjay and has accused Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) the ruling party of Telangana of hatching a conspiracy under false and fabricated charges against their leader who has been fighting against the misrule of BRS.

The BRS meanwhile has been accusing the BJP president of being linked to the leak even before he detention today and pictures of all accused have been circulating on social media.