Breaking: CID arrests former JPSC Chairman L. Khiangte in recruitment scam case
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Ranchi, August 10: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Monday arrested former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Chairman…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, August 10: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Monday arrested former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Chairman L. Khiangte in connection with alleged irregularities in the commission’s 14th Combined Civil Services Examination, intensifying the controversy over the recruitment process amid mounting protests by students across the state.
Khiangte, a former Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, has been accused of allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹2 crore in connection with the award of the examination-conducting contract to TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL). It is further alleged that he was to receive a 20 per cent commission from subsequent payments made to the agency. The allegations reportedly emerged during the CID’s interrogation of Abhay Tiwari, who has been identified as an alleged key figure in the recruitment examination scam.
CID Action Comes Amid Mounting Student Protests
The arrest comes at a time when the state government is facing growing pressure from students demanding action over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC. Large-scale student protests intensified today, with protesters demanding accountability and a thorough investigation into the recruitment process.
The CID action against the former JPSC chairman comes amid this mounting pressure and is likely to further intensify scrutiny of the government’s handling of the recruitment controversy. Students have been demanding stringent action against those responsible and greater transparency in the examination process.
Former JPSC Chairman Questioned For Nearly 26 Hours
Khiangte resigned as JPSC chairman on July 22, following which the CID summoned him for questioning. He underwent several rounds of interrogation, including nearly eight hours of questioning on the first day, around nine hours on the second day and another nine-hour session on July 31.
Before his questioning, the CID had also conducted searches at his official residence on Kanke Road and his office chamber at the JPSC headquarters. The searches lasted around five hours, during which investigators examined documents and seized material considered relevant to the case.
TDPL Contract Under CID Scanner
The investigation has also focused on TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), the private agency engaged to conduct the examination. The CID searched the agency’s premises and seized records related to recruitment examinations, OMR sheets and digital evidence.
According to the allegations emerging during the investigation, the examination contract was allegedly awarded to TDPL in exchange for a ₹2-crore payment to Khiangte. It is further alleged that a 20 per cent commission was also agreed upon on subsequent payments made to the agency. An employee named Dharmendra has reportedly been identified as an alleged intermediary in the transaction.
19 Arrested So Far
The CID has so far arrested 19 people in connection with the case, including JPSC Deputy Controller of Examinations Shweta Gupta. Five of the accused are currently being interrogated on remand as the investigating agency continues to examine the alleged irregularities from multiple angles.
The CID has maintained that the investigation is continuing and that all aspects of the alleged recruitment scam are being examined.
Three JPSC Members Who Resigned on Sunday Under Scanner
Khiangte’s arrest has now raised another crucial question: will the three JPSC members-Dr Ajita Bhattacharya, Dr Anima Hansda and Dr Jamal Ahmed- who resigned on Sunday also be arrested? Ajita Bhattacharya happens to be the wife of senior JMM leader Supriyo Bhattacharya.
The three members have already been summoned by the CID for questioning and are under investigation in connection with the alleged irregularities. They are also reportedly alleged to have been party to the decision to award the examination contract to TDPL.
Their questioning is therefore expected to be closely watched. It remains to be seen whether the CID will take further action against them, including arrest, depending on the evidence that emerges during the investigation.
Pressure Mounts on Government
The latest development comes against the backdrop of sustained student protests over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations. The protests have put the state government under considerable pressure, with students demanding accountability, cancellation or review of disputed recruitment processes and action against those allegedly responsible.
With the arrest of the former JPSC chairman, the investigation has now reached a critical stage. The focus is likely to shift to the three former JPSC members and whether the CID’s probe will result in further arrests.
