Sub-Inspector recruitment scam: CBI arrests BSF commandant

Srinagar, Oct 19: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested a commandant of the Border Security Force (BSF) in a Jammu and Kashmir “Sub-Inspector recruitment” scam. The officer was posted at Paloura, Jammu.
The development comes days after the CBI sleuths carried out raids in 36 locations, including Jammu, Srinagar, Karnal, Mahendergarh, Rewari in Haryana, Gandhidham in Gujarat, Delhi, Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Bangalore in Karnataka at the premises of the former Chairman, JKSSB; gang members domiciled in Haryana; certain teachers; and some serving or retired officials of J & K Police, including a DSP and CRPF official.
In August, the CBI also carried out searches in connection with alleged fraud in recruitment and recovered incriminating documents, devices, answer sheets, application forms, and OMR files, which were very crucial to the case.
The CBI has previously said that the Haryana gang was behind the paper leak of Jammu and Kashmir Police sub inspector recruitment exam. The inquiry, according to the CBI, uncovered an alleged payment of Rs 20–30 lakh (approx) by interested applicants and their families to the accused for accessing the question paper before the commencement of the examination.
“On 03-08-2022, the J&K Government filed a case against 33 accused, including then Medical Officer, BSF Frontier Head Quarters, Paloura; then member, JKSSB; then Under Secretary, then Section Officer (both of JKSSB); Ex-Official of CRPF; ASI of J&K Police; owner of a coaching center, Akhnoor; a private company based in Bengaluru; and unknown others, on allegations of irregularities in the written examination.
The results for SI posts exams were declared on 04-06-2022. There were allegations regarding malpractices in the examination.
The J&K government immediately formed an inquiry committee to look into the matter.
It was alleged that the accused entered into conspiracy amongst officials of JKSSB, a Bengaluru-based private company, beneficiary candidates, and others, and caused gross irregularities in the conduct of the written examination for the posts of sub-inspectors.
It was further alleged that there was an abnormally high percentage of selected candidates from the Jammu, Rajouri, and Samba districts. Violation of rules by JKSSB was allegedly found in assigning the task of setting question papers to a Bengaluru-based private company. An investigation has revealed that the alleged payment of Rs20 to 30 lakh(approx) by willing candidates and their families to the accused for accessing the question paper before the commencement of the examination has been revealed.
During the CBI inquiry, “It was found that the accused entered into a conspiracy with touts and arranged leaked question papers for his son through a tout. The question paper was allegedly provided in the early morning of 27-03-2022 at a house in Gangyal, Jammu. “
It was also revealed that certain candidates leaked question papers at the residence of the accused just a few hours before the examination. It was further alleged that the accused manipulated/tampered with the logbook of an official vehicle in a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence and was also evasive throughout the investigation.
CBI had previously arrested eight suspects, including a JK Police constable, a CRPF official, a J&K Government teacher, and others.