Bengaluru: Over 1.75 lac PU students are in distress after the PU Chemistry question paper leaked for the second time, but along with them Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Rathnakar too is under distress as the opposition and his own party men are up in arms against him.

However, addressing a news conference on Thursday, Rathnakar said that the re-examination will be held on April 12 and in connection to question paper leak as many as 40 education Department personnel have been kept under suspension.

A three-member team has been constituted oversee re-examination. Transport Department Commissioner, Ramegowda, PU Board Director, Pallavi Akurathi, Sarva Shikshan Abhyan Director, P C Jaffer are in the panel.

Amidst fierce protests, the PU students have put their foot down and stated that they would not appear for the examination at any cost.

“We were prepared to write the exam on March 31. If the paper leaks for the second time, it talks eloquently of the kind of people working in the education department and the way they have taken us for granted, said a students on conditions of anonymity.