New Delhi: The Jharkhand Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested three more alleged brokers in connection with the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Civil Services examination paper leak case, taking the total number of arrests to 14 as the investigation gathers momentum.
According to officials, the newly arrested suspects are accused of acting as intermediaries in the alleged examination irregularities. Investigators believe they worked in coordination with the private examination agency, TSR Data Processing Ltd. (TDPL), to facilitate an alleged “setting” arrangement during the recruitment examination. The allegations remain under investigation, and authorities have not reached any final conclusions.
Earlier, 11 accused were remanded to judicial custody. With the latest arrests, the CID has intensified its crackdown on those suspected of involvement in the alleged manipulation of the examination process.
The investigation comes amid widespread protests by civil services aspirants in Ranchi, who have alleged irregularities in the preliminary examination. Students have been demanding the cancellation of the examination, comprehensive reforms within the JPSC, and an independent investigation by a central agency to ensure transparency and accountability.
The protest movement has gained momentum in recent days, with Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahato continuing an indefinite hunger strike. He has maintained that the agitation will continue until the government cancels the examination and implements structural reforms to restore confidence in the state’s recruitment process.
Student organisations have also questioned the appointment of TSR Data Processing Ltd. to conduct the examination, arguing that an external probe is necessary to establish accountability.
The controversy began after allegations of discrepancies in the preliminary examination results surfaced. Responding to growing public pressure, the Jharkhand government ordered a CID investigation. Since then, investigators have conducted searches at locations linked to the JPSC, seized electronic evidence, questioned several officials, and the Civil Services Main Examination has been postponed while the probe continues. Authorities have stated that the investigation remains ongoing and further action will depend on the evidence collected.
