JOIN USArmy recruitment racket busted hours before exam
The Thane police on Sunday blew the lid off a major recruitment scam involving the army, following the leak of question papers of an examination conducted by the Army Recruitment Board.
As many as 18 people from Thane, Nashik, Pune and Nagpur in Maharashtra and Goa were arrested hours before the written examinations was to be conducted for inducting soldier (general duty) and clerks.
The role of Indian Army officials have not been ruled out in the leak of question papers, and investigations are underway. The Thane Crime Branch-CID carried out the operation following a tip-off from an informer, after which several places were raided.
“It was a big operation and we are investigating the matter,” Joint Commissioner of Police Ashutosh Dumbre said. Around 300 to 350 candidates who benefited from these examination papers were detained for a few hours, but were later released after the police noted their personal details.
Investigations have revealed that candidates paid Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh for the question papers. The candidates were given the papers in local lodges, owned by those who run coaching classes. Some army employees and students were made to practice writing the correct answers.
Dumbre said that cases have been registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act and Prevention of Corruption Act. The possibility of more arrests have not been ruled out.
The army has launched a probe into the leakage of the question papers, besides cancelling the screening examination at six centres, DHNS reports from New Delhi.
“An internal army inquiry has been ordered, while video footage of the printing centres are being made available to the police. The examination has been countermanded in six centres falling within the jurisdiction of the Pune zone,” an army official said in Delhi.
The exams were held for several low-level posts, including soldier (general duty), soldier clerk, strongman and soldier tradesman, in 52 centres across the country.