Friday, February 25 2005 18:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ballia (UP): Police have quizzed Saurav Singh, whose claims of achieving a rare feat by qualifying an international test raked up a controversy, and said his certificate appeared 'suspicious'.

"Prima facie, the certificate issued to Saurav Singh stating his achievement appear suspicious and efforts have been launched to check the veracity of the agency which conducted this test, Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar Singh told sources in UP.

"It does not even have a stamp of the issuing authority," the SP said adding help of different agencies in the field of education was also being sought on the issue.

Police and local intelligence unit officials quizzed Saurav for two hours after he returned from Delhi last night and also took his statement in writing.

District Magistrate V K Malik had constituted a team led by additional district magistrate Ram Surat Yadav to thoroughly investigate the matter, the SP said.

Besides the certificate, the administration has acquired the passport and other documents of Saurav and a team has also been dispatched to Kota in Rajasthan where the 15-year-old boy was studying while he applied for the said examination on the basis of an advertisement.

Meanwhile, Saurav told reporters that he was confident of his success and was not discouraged because of the denial issued by NASA over the examination.

Saurav also gave a detailed account of his meeting with President A P J Abdul Kalam in New Delhi on Wednesday (Feb 23, 2005).