JPSC Exam Row: CID Probe Uncovers Alleged Rs. 5.80 Crore Job-for-Cash Network

The CID investigation into alleged irregularities in Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations has brought to light a suspected job-for-cash network involving candidates, middlemen and people allegedly linked to the examination process.

During questioning, Deoghar resident Abhay Tiwari is reported to have made several significant claims before the CID. According to the alleged details emerging from his interrogation, Tiwari and people associated with his network collected around ?5.80 crore from 20 candidates in connection with recruitment to posts of Forest Range Officer (FRO) and Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF).

The allegations are serious, but they remain part of the ongoing investigation. The claims will need to be independently corroborated through financial records, digital evidence, examination documents and statements of other individuals before they can be established.

?20-35 lakh allegedly demanded for each post

According to the alleged statement attributed to Tiwari, candidates were being asked to pay around ?20 lakh to ?25 lakh for an FRO post and ?30 lakh to ?35 lakh for an ACF post.

The network allegedly arranged 12 candidates for FRO posts and eight for ACF posts. Of the 20 candidates, 19 are reportedly said to have cleared the examination, while Chhatarpur resident Santosh Ram allegedly failed to make the cut.

The investigation has also thrown up an unusual allegation: two individuals were allegedly functioning both as candidates and as intermediaries for the network. If established, this could indicate that the suspected arrangement was not limited to a few isolated transactions but involved a broader network for identifying and influencing candidates.

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Former JPSC official allegedly faced pressure over results

Another important aspect of the investigation concerns the alleged role of former JPSC officials.

During CID questioning, former Deputy Examination Controller Shweta Gupta reportedly alleged that then-JPSC chairman L. Khiangte pressured her to proceed with the declaration of the results.

According to her alleged statement, Khiangte told her that the marks obtained by candidates in both the preliminary and main examinations were available and that the results should be prepared on that basis. Gupta is reportedly said to have opposed the move and was not in favour of declaring the results at that stage.

The allegation, if substantiated, could be significant because it raises questions about how the examination results were processed and whether officials faced external pressure while carrying out their responsibilities.

More names emerge during the investigation

The CID has also arrested Dharmendra, who was working in the Chief Secretary's Office. After the completion of his initial remand, he has reportedly been taken into an additional five-day remand for further questioning.

Investigators are also looking for Sanand Prakash, who is said to be associated with the Chief Secretary's Office. During questioning, the names of Sanand Prakash and Ravi Master, who teaches at Patanjali IAS Academy, have reportedly surfaced.

The allegations under investigation suggest that some individuals may have played different roles in the suspected network, ranging from identifying potential candidates to facilitating contact and allegedly collecting money. Their exact roles, however, will have to be established through evidence.

Alleged network spread across several districts

The investigation has reportedly identified several other names, including Shanty of Delhi, Lalu of Koderma, Imran of Patna, Rajesh of Giridih, Shankar of Bokaro and Sunil of Hazaribagh.

According to the investigation, these individuals allegedly helped identify candidates from different areas and connect them with the wider network. Candidates were then allegedly approached with promises of helping them secure favourable examination outcomes in return for substantial payments.

The emergence of people from different cities and districts suggests that investigators are looking into whether the alleged operation had a wider geographical reach rather than being confined to Ranchi or a single group.

From hotel business to an alleged examination network

The investigation has also reportedly examined Tiwari's background and his business connections.

According to the alleged account given during questioning, Tiwari initially entered the hotel business with his partner Umesh Kumar, investing around ₹10 lakh. He later became associated with Prakash Residency Hotel on Station Road before starting JSR Agency, a manpower supply business.

It was reportedly during this period that he came into contact with Shanty from Delhi and Lalu from Koderma. Through Lalu, he allegedly met Satpal Singh and Ramveer Singh, who were associated with TDPL.

Tiwari is reportedly alleged to have told investigators that he was to receive a 10 per cent commission for handling work related to TDPL. His alleged statement also includes a claim that he retained around ₹1 crore collected from candidates through different channels.

These financial allegations could become a crucial part of the CID investigation, particularly if investigators are able to match the claims with bank transactions, cash movements, property records, phone communications or other documentary evidence.

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Alleged ₹3 crore deal to manage a PIL

Another serious allegation emerging from the investigation relates to a Public Interest Litigation concerning JPSC and TDPL.

According to the alleged statement attributed to Tiwari, a deal worth around ₹3 crore was discussed to allegedly "manage" the PIL filed before the High Court. The statement reportedly claims that an advance payment of ₹5 lakh was made through a person running a shop at Sainik Market.

The statement also allegedly claims that Shweta Gupta was aware of the purported arrangement. The concerned PIL, however, was subsequently dismissed by the court.

These claims too remain allegations and would require independent verification. The existence of a court case or its dismissal, by itself, does not establish the alleged financial arrangement.

Money trail could hold the key

The latest developments indicate that the CID investigation is moving beyond individual statements and towards establishing whether the alleged network can be supported by documentary and financial evidence.

Investigators are expected to examine money transfers, bank accounts, communications, candidate records, examination data and the roles of individuals named during questioning. A comparison between candidates' payments, their examination performance and the official records could be particularly important in determining whether the alleged job-for-cash arrangement actually influenced the recruitment process.

The case also raises broader questions about the integrity of competitive examinations and the vulnerability of recruitment systems to middlemen and organised influence. For thousands of aspirants who depend on transparent examinations for government jobs, the credibility of the process is as important as the final result.

For now, the allegations emerging from the CID investigation should be treated as claims under investigation rather than established facts. The final picture will depend on the evidence gathered by the agency and, ultimately, the outcome of the judicial process.

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