Champai Soren demands CBI probe into Jharkhand exam row

Senior BJP leader and former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren on Saturday accused the JMM-led alliance government of cheating job aspirants and demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Soren alleged that JMM workers and police thrashed students who were peacefully protesting and attempting to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Ranchi, Hazaribag, Giridih, and other districts. The BJP leader claimed the government had weakened the case concerning alleged irregularities in exams conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).

The protests come after the Jharkhand High Court stayed several government notifications cancelling recruitment exams, causing disgruntlement among exam protesters. The 'JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch', which has been spearheading the stir, has questioned the government's handling of the court proceedings, alleging that senior law officers were not present to effectively contest petitions. Opposition leader Babulal Marandi accused the government of using force against students, while the JMM alleged the BJP was trying to exploit the issue for political gain. The CID's Special Investigation Team has questioned 37 suspects in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2023 JSSC Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination. Three FIRs have been filed in Ranchi against 14 named and over 200 unidentified persons after the clashes.