In a major crackdown on exam malpractice, authorities have arrested 159 candidates along with five key accused in connection with the Jharkhand Excise Constable Competitive Examination (JECCE) 2023 paper leak case.
The incident has raised serious concerns over the integrity of recruitment exams in the state.
Mass Arrest After Tip-Off in Ranchi
The arrests were made in Ranchi after police received intelligence about a large group of candidates gathering at a building in the Rargaon area under Tamar police station limits.
According to officials, the candidates were found with printed and digital copies of question papers that were being circulated before the examination.
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Question Papers Seized, Mismatch Found
Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Chairman Prashant Kumar confirmed that four sets of question papers were recovered from the accused.
However, he clarified that the seized papers did not exactly match the questions asked in the actual exam conducted on the same day.
Gang Charged ₹10–15 Lakh Per Candidate
Initial investigation revealed that the accused were brought to the location by agents of an organised gang involved in exam irregularities.
Each candidate allegedly paid between ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh to obtain question papers and answers in advance.
To avoid detection:
- Candidates handed over their mobile phones and admit cards
- Some even issued bank cheques to the gang members
- Main Accused Linked to Multiple Exam Leaks
Authorities stated that the main accused is an active member of a ‘solver paper leak’ gang. He is reportedly a resident of Jahanabad in Bihar and has been linked to several major exam scams.
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These include:
- Rajasthan clerk recruitment exam
- NEET exam
- Bihar Community Health Officer recruitment exam
- Uttar Pradesh RO/ARO preliminary exam
Investigation Ongoing, More Arrests Likely
Police have intensified raids to arrest other members of the gang. Interrogation of the accused is currently underway to uncover the full network behind the scam.
Political Row Erupts
Following the incident, leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged protests against Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Party workers in Ranchi and other districts burnt effigies and accused the state government of compromising the future of youth. They also demanded that the examination be conducted again.
Final Update
The case has once again highlighted concerns over exam security and fairness in competitive recruitment. Authorities have assured strict action against all those involved.
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