The scene from Munnabhai M.B.B.S., where Sanjay Dutt's character, Murli Prasad Sharma, was interviewed by experts doubting his medical degree, will play out for real in the state.

For the first time in its history, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) will interview its intermediate (science and arts) toppers on Friday, assessing their knowledge. Fourteen such students, who have figured in the top five positions have been called by the board's panel.

This decision comes in the wake of toppers in arts and science, respectively, failing to answer basic questions.

While Rubi Rai, the topper in arts was not even able to spell her subject (political science), spelling it as prodigal science, Saurav Shrestha, the state science topper said the most reactive element in the periodic table is aluminium, the correct answer is fluorine.

BSEB secretary Harihar Nath Jha said: "The interview will start at 3pm and each topper will be interviewed by a subject expert."

The secretary said the toppers will be given a set of questions from their subjects to answer. The experts will assess the answers and match their handwriting with the intermediate answer scripts.

Sources said chief minister Nitish Kumar has talked to education minister Ashok Choudhary on the issue.

Choudhary alleged that a nexus existed between some Bihar School Examination Board officials and some college authorities, who have been producing toppers year by year by awarding them undue marks. The two toppers are from Vishun Roy College at Bhagwanpur in Hajipur, which is run by RJD leaders Rajdeo Rai and Bachcha Rai who are said to be close to RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Sources said the college charges a fixed amount (Rs 4-5 lakh) for producing toppers. Rubi is daughter of a retired army man, while Saurav's father is contractor at Lalganj, Vaishali.

The education minister's allegations gains credence as copies of the intermediate examinations of most colleges in Hajipur were sent to Saharsa for evaluation, while the copies of Vishun Roy College was sent to Senior Secondary High School at Rajendra Nagar in Patna for evaluation.

Sources said the board's decision to evaluate copies of Vishun Roy College at Senior Secondary High School was taken by Bihar School Examination Board chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh. Singh, hailing from Nalanda, is the husband of JDU former Hilsa MLA Usha Sinha.

Sources said the education department is treading carefully as the heads of the board and Vishun Roy College are said to close to Nitish and Lalu, respectively.