Srinagar: Omar Abdullah's government is dealing with allegations that the Education Minister used his office to ensure his son was allowed to cheat in his Class 10 exams. The minister, Peerzada Mohmmad Sayeed, is from the Congress, which is Mr Abdullah's partner in the state.

"Am discussing the Peerzada matter with my allies as he holds a portfolio allocated to them. Expect further action in the matter tomorrow," Mr Abduallh tweeted this evening.  He added, "Syed heads the department about which allegations have been levelled and that fact is inescapable."

The state's Crime Branch gave the findings of its investigation to Mr Abdullah yesterday.  The opposition wants the report to be made public.

The answer sheet for Mr Sayeed's foster son showed two different sets of handwriting. He took his Class 10 exam in 2009, allegedly with help from officials in the Education Department, one of whom is believed to have written some answers for the student.

One of the supervisors had brought the matter to the notice of the state education board, but was allegedly hushed up.

Members of the Board of School Education (BOSE) had filed a complaint about the case of cheating, but their recommendation for an inquiry and action were rejected by the Secretary of the Board, said Professor Sheikh Bashir Ahmad.

In 2010, an anonymous complaint was made to Governor NN Vora, who forwarded the matter to Mr Abdullah. At the chief Minister's behest an inquiry was carried out by the General Administration Department, but the results to this are not known.

Last week the answer sheet in question was published in a local newspaper, after which Mr Abdullah to hand the case over to the Crime Branch.

Tags: J&K education minister, Omar Abdullah, Peerzada Mohmmad Sayed, Peerzada son exam