An innovative method used by the lead actor for copying in the movie Munnabhai MBBS seems to have made a lasting impression on the student community.

As many as 18 M Tech engineering students of the Patna university were expelled and taken into custody for indulging in malpractice during their examination. The students used mobile phones for cheating in the exams.

Last week, 12 students of the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital were arrested for using mobile phones during examination. The students were let off after they paid a penalty.

District control room official Rajnish Kumar Singh said that the police caught the M Tech students red handed following a tip off. "We have seized seven cell phones," Singh said on Friday.

All the seized cellphones were handed over to the examination centre superintendent. Those arrested were kept in the Pirbahore police station and would be produced in the court on Friday.