Prem Lal Sah Kanu, mayor of Dewahi Gonahi Municipality in Rautahat, was caught fielding another person in his stead to appear for the Secondary Education Examinations.

According to Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, an exam monitoring team visiting the exam centre at Laxminiya Secondary School in Maulapur Municipality on Sunday nabbed one Kamal Sah of Pothiyahi in Garuda Municipality in the district while he was appearing for the SEE in place of Kanu.

Sah, an engineer by profession, is Kanu’s son-in-law.

Kanu had enrolled in grade 9 at the Pathabudhram Secondary School in Maulapur last year. However, he had not attended any classes at the school.

Rajesh Patel, the school’s principal, confirmed that the mayor has not attended a single class at the school.

“Not just Mayor Kanu but there are other students from the school who are appearing for the ongoing SEE without attending a single class,” said Patel.

Kanu did not answer multiple calls made by the Post throughout Sunday.

Dewahi Gonahi Municipality Chief Administrative Officer Sikinder Sah said that he had also heard reports of the mayor using a proxy to appear for his SEE.

“The mayor did not come to the office,” said Sah. “It seems he is stressed out.”

CDO Mishra informed that an investigation is underway into the case.

A security official said that action will be taken against the mayor based on his son-in-law's statement.

Advocate Bipin Gautam said there is a legal provision that both the examinee and the proxy can be imprisoned for up to six months, fined up to Rs100,000 or both.