Babulal Marandi Questions Jharkhand Government’s Intent, Says CBI Probe Essential for Justice

Jharkhand Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi has questioned the intent behind the state government’s decision to cancel examinations amid the ongoing students’ agitation, saying that scrapping the exams alone would not deliver justice to the students.

Addressing the media at the BJP state office, Marandi alleged that Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s government had deliberately planned the cancellation of the examinations to mislead the protesting students. He said the students’ central demand from the beginning had been a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities.

“Why is the government running away from a CBI probe?” Marandi asked, alleging that people in positions of power could also be linked to the alleged irregularities and the purported sale of government jobs through JPSC and JSSC examinations.

Marandi said cancelling all examinations conducted by TDPL and the JSSC CGL examination could not be considered a solution to the problem. He alleged that the government was trying to take credit for cancelling the examinations while leaving the larger questions surrounding the alleged examination irregularities unanswered.

According to Marandi, the cancellation could eventually lead to legal challenges by candidates who were selected through the allegedly flawed process. He claimed that if the matter reached court, the government and its investigation agency would be required to present evidence regarding the alleged irregularities.

He also questioned the credibility of the ongoing CID investigation, alleging that the agency had previously submitted a misleading report to the court. Marandi claimed that alleged question-paper leaks had links extending to Nepal, West Bengal and different parts of Jharkhand, making a wider and independent investigation necessary.

He argued that students would find it difficult to establish such a widespread network of alleged malpractice on their own. He further claimed that if a court stayed the government’s decision to cancel the examinations, those who allegedly secured jobs by paying money could benefit while the government could use the court proceedings as a reason for delaying further action.

Marandi said the students, who had been protesting for 24 days, could ultimately be left with nothing more than what he described as a “betrayal” if the government did not agree to a CBI probe.

He accused the JMM-Congress government of misleading students and young people and reiterated the BJP’s position that cancellation of examinations was not the answer.

“The solution is only and only a CBI investigation,” Marandi said, alleging that irregularities had occurred in several JPSC and JSSC examinations and that fresh revelations were emerging regularly.

He also questioned why no action had so far been taken against the JSSC chairperson, who, he said, had been holding the post since 2024, a period during which several controversies surrounding examinations had emerged.

Marandi further demanded action against CID officials who, he alleged, had diverted the course of the investigation. He accused the government of attempting to protect officials and alleged middlemen involved in the suspected buying and selling of jobs.

He urged the state government to immediately hand over all the related cases to the CBI, saying an independent investigation was necessary to identify those allegedly involved in the irregularities and expose the role of influential people.

Marandi appealed to the protesting students to remain firm on their demand for a CBI investigation and said the BJP would continue to support their movement.

“Until an order for a CBI investigation is issued, this fight will continue,” he said.

The allegations made by Marandi are political claims and have not been independently established.