UP STF Cracks Down on Gang for Leaking Review Officer Exam Paper

In a significant operation, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police apprehended six individuals for their alleged involvement in the leakage of examination papers designated for the recruitment of review officers and assistant review officers. The arrests, which included a printing press staff member, were executed in Prayagraj, as confirmed by the STF in a recent statement.

The compromised exam, overseen by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), took place statewide on February 11. However, following allegations of the paper being leaked, the state government was compelled to annul the examination on March 2. The individuals apprehended in connection with this incident include Sunil Raghuvanshi from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, who is associated with a printing press, and five others from various locations across India.

Authorities seized a laptop, six mobile phones, and five blank cheques from the accused. This follows an earlier arrest of 10 individuals linked to the same case. A comprehensive legal charge has been filed against them at the Civil Lines police station in Prayagraj, encompassing multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) alongside charges under the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination Act, 1998, and Information Technology Act.

Investigations revealed that the examination paper was leaked through two distinct methods. Initially, it was leaked directly from an examination centre on February 11 by scanning it with mobile phones. Those responsible for this act have already been apprehended and are currently under custody. The second method involved leaking from the printing press where Sunil Raghuvanshi played a pivotal role.

Raghuvanshi managed to smuggle out the question paper under the guise of repairing machinery at the press. He then collaborated with Vishal Dubey and others to organize a meeting at Komal Hotel with potential candidates and solvers to disseminate the leaked paper. This elaborate scheme involved charging each candidate Rs 12 lakh for access to the solved paper.

The Uttar Pradesh government responded swiftly to these developments by cancelling the preliminary exam conducted on February 11. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that a re-examination be conducted within six months while assigning the STF to thoroughly investigate and address this breach of integrity in public service examinations.

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced in ensuring fairness and transparency in competitive examinations. The authorities are committed to upholding these principles by taking stringent actions against those who attempt to undermine them.