Ranchi, Aug. 3: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Monday intensified its probe into alleged irregularities in the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) recruitment examination by conducting simultaneous raids at 18 locations across Ranchi, Palamu, Hazaribagh, Bokaro and Dhanbad, officials said.
During the searches, investigators seized a large quantity of documents and electronic devices, including laptops, mobile phones, bank passbooks, chequebooks, carbon copies of candidates’ OMR sheets, admit cards, mark sheets and other records believed to be relevant to the investigation.
The CID said all the seized materials would undergo detailed forensic and investigative examination as part of its ongoing probe into the alleged recruitment scam.
In a significant development, the agency revealed that Abhay Kumar Tiwari, who was arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination, had reportedly qualified in 12 central and state government recruitment examinations over the past 13 years.
According to the CID, the examinations include the 2013 Navy SSR recruitment, the 2014 Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Assistant examination, the 2014 Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) preliminary test, the 2018 Sub-Inspector of Police written examination, IRB Constable recruitment, CRPF Head Constable (Written and Typing) examination, JSSC PGT Teacher and Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examinations, JPSC Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), Forest Range Officer (FRO) and Forest Safety Officer (FSO) examinations, besides the 11th to 13th Jharkhand Combined Civil Services Preliminary examinations.
The agency said the authenticity of Tiwari’s candidature and selection in these examinations would now be verified as part of the investigation.
“A large quantity of important documents and electronic equipment have been seized during the raids,” the CID said, adding that “the seized evidence will be thoroughly investigated.”
The investigating agency further stated that “verification of these facts is necessary” and has written to the concerned recruitment and examination-conducting agencies seeking candidature records, application forms, evaluation records, selection process documents and other relevant records.
“The CID has sought candidature records, application forms, evaluation records and selection process documents from the concerned recruitment agencies to ensure a fair and effective investigation,” the agency said.
Officials said the exercise is aimed at establishing whether any irregularities occurred in the recruitment and selection processes linked to the examinations cleared by the accused.
The multi-district searches and collection of recruitment records mark a significant expansion of the CID’s investigation into the alleged JPSC recruitment irregularities, with the agency expected to scrutinise both the seized evidence and official examination records in the coming days.
