[9][10][11] Science topper Saurabh Shrestha was unaware of electrons and protons and wrongly said that aluminium is the most reactive element.
[12][13] The examinations in February–March 2016 were largely fair as the Bihar government, stung by the photos of mass copying in the BSEB-conducted exams in 2015,[14][15] tried its best to prevent the use of unfair means.
When interviewed by the Aaj Tak TV channel, Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shresth were unable to answer basic questions.
[32] Bachcha had unsuccessfully lobbied for an RJD ticket from the Paroo (Vidhan Sabha constituency) in Muzaffarpur district in November 2015.
[36] On 8 June 2016, the BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh resigned after being served a show-cause notice by the Bihar state's education department.
On 25 June, Ruby Rai appeared before BSEB team for re-evaluation, and failed to answer a single question correctly.
BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh confessed to having taken ₹20 lakh (US$23,000) from a cheating racket kingpin to help each unworthy student become a topper.
[50] The father of the science topper was arrested from the Kanti Factory Road area in east Patna on 15 July.
[55] On 15 July, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the topper scam is a God-sent opportunity to rectify the system in Bihar.
[57] In September 2016, the Bihar government decided to link exams to Aadhaar numbers to avoid duplication and facilitate easy access to documents.
[58] The seven-member governing board led by BSEB chairman Anand Kishor gave its nod for the creation of 135 posts (official and clerical), the construction of nine new examination halls, and the setting up of nine regional offices.
[61] Many argued that Ruby Rai was unfairly targeted as she was a minor (17), as she was born on 15 November 1998 and the real kingpins of the crime and low education level of Bihar Board have not yet been caught.
[67] Referring to the specifically targeted media coverage of Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shrestha, columnist Shivanshu K. Srivastava wrote, "At least the news presenters should have shown some sensitivity towards these misguided children.
[70][71] On 13 July, Ruby broke down in tears in the juvenile justice board office after seeing her grandfather Munshi Prasad Rai.