CID raids JSSC office as JPSC exam irregularities probe widens

The Jharkhand CID on Monday raided the JSSC office in Ranchi as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, including those conducted by the JPSC. The FIR, lodged on July 22, names seven accused including TDPL directors Satyapal and Ramvir Singh, JPSC staff, and former Deputy Controller of Examinations Shweta Kumari Gupta, the Times Now News reports. The probe has questioned how blacklisted company TDPL was entrusted with confidential examination work, and has flagged a potential conflict of interest involving Abhay Tiwari, who cleared multiple JPSC and JSSC exams.

Investigators found confidential answer booklets of the FRO Mains-2026 exam on a computer at TDPL's residential premises, and allege an answer key was sent via WhatsApp to a TDPL employee, the Times Now News adds. The Times of India reports that the protest by job aspirants, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, entered its 24th day with six protesters on hunger strike. Jharkhand minister Dipika Pandey Singh said the 14th JPSC and backlog exams will be cancelled, and the government will write to the Enforcement Directorate.

A seventh round of talks between the protesters and the state government was scheduled for Monday. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to meet the students. The BJP has backed the demand for a CBI probe. The CID has arrested 20 people so far, including former JPSC chairman L Khiangte, the Times of India reports.