The headmaster--Syed Md. Mansur--used the name of the Deputy Commissioner to hide the scam. As the news reached the Deputy Commissioner, he ordered the headmaster to appear before him and seizure of documents from the school.

Sources said the headmaster, in collusion with two other teachers, admitted 117 students in classes three, four and six though they failed in admission tests, allegedly in exchange of money.

The headmaster was due to go on leave preparatory to retirement on Tuesday.

A farewell reception was arranged for him at the school on Monday.

All of a sudden, several hundred agitated guardians of students deprived of admission swooped on the reception venue at about noon and tried to assault the headmaster, alleging that he admitted students who failed in tests in exchange of money.

The headmaster hurriedly left the school, telling the agitated guardians that he admitted some students on recommendations of the Deputy Commissioner.

Some of the agitating guardians contacted the Deputy Commissioner, who told them he did not make any such recommendation.

The mob came back to the school and cordoned the headmaster's resident Monday night.

But the headmaster along with his family had left the house before that, sources said. His whereabouts were not known when the report was filed yesterday afternoon.

When contacted Deputy Commissioner Manzur-e-Elahi said he sent two magistrates to the school and found the allegation correct during primary investigation. All documents have been seized from the school, he said.