Bid to sell police exam papers in Kodagu, kingpin held

Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths, early on Saturday arrested a person in Kodagu, for selling question papers and answer scripts for the upcoming civil constables’ written examination scheduled for Sunday.

The accused, Shivakumaraiah, was the kingpin in the PU question paper leak case of 2016 and was booked under the Karnataka Control of Crimes Act (KCOCA), 2000.

The arrest comes a day before the written examination and the department has postponed the exam indefinitely. The new date will be announced later.

Shivakumaraiah is being brought to the city for interrogation, while his associate Basavaraju managed to escape.

CCB sleuths received a tip-off that Shivakumar organised a gathering of 116 candidates who were being brought to a private school in Somwarpet taluk, Kodagu district. These candidates, who were aspirants to become civil constables, were ferried to the school in four mini-buses from various parts of the state.

Shivakumaraiah and Basavaraju were selling the civil constable examination question paper along with answer scripts for Rs 6 lakh to 8 lakh to each of the candidates. The gathering at the school was for distribution of question papers and answer scripts.

Two special teams were formed and rushed to the school in the wee hours of Saturday. They questioned the candidates, who spilled the beans.

The CCB confirmed with the department of recruitment and training that the leaked question paper was the one selected for the exam.

The department also has initiated a probe as to how Shivakumaraiah got the paper.

The sleuths noted down the names and contact details of all 116 candidates, seven drivers and cleaners, and arrested Shivakumaraiah. They seized four mini-buses and an Innova car. An FIR has registered by the cyber crime police against Shivakumaraiah and others.

The duo had bought many mobile phone SIMs using fake identity cards and created multiple social media accounts using fake names to communicate with the candidates.

The sleuths said similar meetings were arranged for around 40 candidates in Tumakuru and around 40 candidates in Bengaluru.

“Shivakumaraiah was involved in the PU question paper leak case, but even after that he continues his criminal activities. He was involved in many other question paper leak cases. We will ascertain as to who in the department leaked the paper to him,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Alok Kumar told DH.