Hyderabad: An attempt to leak the medical paper of Engineering Agricultural and Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET), which was conducted on Sunday across Andhra Pradesh, was averted by officials, followed by arrests of persons involved in the racket as well as some candidates.

The candidates appearing for the test who were arrested for cheating in the paper were picked up from the KSRM Engineering College centre in Kadapa as well as GPR Engineering College in Kurnool.

The arrested candidates had tried to enter the premises of their allotted examination centers with microphones attached to the collars of their shirts.

A senior official said that around 150 candidates were held by the police and it was also found that some medical college students were involved in the racket. "After initial questioning, it was found that the candidates were willing to pay around Rs. 5 Lakh if they were successful in their attempts," he said.

Candidates were assured by Chairman K.C. Reddy of the Andhra Pradesh State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE), EAMCET-2010 Chairman D.N. Reddy and Convener N.V. Ramana Rao that the paper had not been leaked and that there was nothing to be worried about.

They said during a press conference that the number of complaints received about possible paper leaks was very few and the police had been alerted immediately in all cases.

"The police was of great assistance and did a great job of tracing the sources of the paper leak attempt as well as candidates that tried to give the paper via unfair means. Four microphones were confiscated from students," they said.

"According to rumors, eight questions in botany and 21 questions of zoology were leaked. However, when these questions were compared with the original paper, the rumor was proved to be false," said D.N. Reddy.

Prof. D.N. Reddy also clarified that no officials were involved in the attempt to leak the paper.