Arrests made in Army recruitment exam leak
21 people have been arrested from Pune, Nagpur and Panaji in connection with leaking papers of an army recruitment exam: among those arrested include a retired army officer and a paramilitary officer. The recruitment exam was for junior posts like general duty, clerks, tradesmen. The recruitment exam was scheduled for 9am, yesterday morning: the racket was busted just hours before it commenced.
Police acted on tip-off
Police were tipped off by a person running a coaching institute. He said candidates were leaving classes and getting fake residence proofs made to appear for exams from a particular area. This aroused his suspicions and he reported the matter.
An organized racket
Reportedly, the exam paper leak was an organized racket whose key members were involved in operations of coaching classes for army recruitment. A lance naik with an army depot and other agents and drivers were involved in roping in beneficiaries who were seeking to pay for leaked papers. Nearly 350 students from Pune (79), Nagpur (222) and Goa (49) were caught with exam papers.
Transmitted via messaging apps
Jt. Commissioner of Thane, Ashutosh Dumbhare said: "Rs 4-5 lakh were taken from each student. The question papers were circulated through WhatsApp and printed by candidates. The candidates have been let off as of now."
What follows next?
Prior to the exam, the army had asked police and intelligence agencies to make sure that free and fair exams were held. Reportedly, the army has now decided to conduct an internal inquiry and based on the findings, further action will be determined. Currently the police is continuing investigations and identifying every member who might have been involved in the recruitment exam racket.
