Rajasthan: 44 arrested after paper leaked for teachers recruitment exams

Forty-four persons, including the alleged mastermind of the scam and 37 students, were arrested after a general knowledge question paper was allegedly leaked in Rajasthan just hours before the teachers recruitment exam on Saturday. The examination has been subsequently cancelled.

According to authorities, the paper leak gang allegedly took Rs 10 lakh from each applicant for unlawfully providing them the questionnaire for the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC)’s test for second-grade teachers.

“Today, on December 24, from 9 to 11 am, the general knowledge test for teacher recruitment has been cancelled as a precaution so that no injustice is done to any hardworking youths,” Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted.

Even as the opposition BJP criticised the Congress government, alleging it was the ninth instance of paper leak, and urged stern punishment against those engaged in the scam, the chief minister insisted the government had passed a strong law for transparency in recruitment examinations.

Police reported that seven “experts” and 37 students were arrested in the Udaipur area. Suresh Vishnoi, a native of Jodhpur and the suspected mastermind of the paper leak, was among those arrested.

Police teams stopped a vehicle at a junction in the Bekariya police station circle this morning after receiving information that the paper had been leaked and a private bus carrying the candidates was heading to Udaipur, according to Udaipur Superintendent of Police Vikas Sharma.

He said the candidates travelling in the bus were found to be in possession of the leaked examination paper.

“The suspected bus was stopped. At least 37 candidates were found with the leaked paper and seven others including experts and invigilators were found with other equipment. All of them hail from Jalore district and they have been arrested,” Sharma said.

According to him, a preliminary inquiry showed that the mastermind had paid Rs 10 lakh to provide them with the paper. According to the SP, more arrests are expected in this case.

Three people who attempted to appear in the teacher recruitment examination as dummy applicants have been arrested by Udaipur Police in recent days.

According to Chief Minister Gehlot, resolute action is being taken against unscrupulous individuals.

Sadly, nationwide gangs that specialise in leaking paper have emerged, which has led to several states experiencing events like paper leaks. However, Gehlot claimed that by taking rigorous action in Rajasthan, the unscrupulous elements have been imprisoned.

“I can feel the problems faced by the examinees, but those who come with the intention to clear the examination through unfair means will not be selected. Only hardworking youths will get their rights in Rajasthan. My appeal is that instead of getting misled by someone, you should continue your preparation,” he said.

Gulab Chand Kataria, the leader of the opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, said the occurrence is a matter of shame for the administration and questioned how “the network that leaks papers for money” is able to function in the state.

He claimed that it was upsetting for the kids who had worked so hard to prepare for the test.

“There is a huge nexus involved in the crime as eight papers have already got leaked and Saturday’s incident was the 9th,” Kataria said.

BJP national general secretary and Rajasthan in-charge Arun Singh said, “There is anger among youths. The cancellation of the first shift paper of the Rajasthan Senior Teacher Recruitment Exam 2022 is another proof of CM Ashok Gehlot’s failure. Fearless paper mafia dominates the entire examination system, future of youth is bleak.”

Other BJP leaders, such as state president Satish Poonia and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, criticised the Congress administration for its “failure” to stop the paper leak mafia.

Umesh Mishra, the director general of police in Rajasthan, stated that the arrests demonstrate their commitment to holding fair and impartial recruitment examination.

In a statement, he promised that, similar to the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET), the paper leak gang would face serious legal repercussions this time as well.

According to Mishra, a letter has been sent to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission requesting that applicants who attempt to cheat be disqualified.

The exam was scheduled from 9 am to 11 am.

 

(With inputs from PTI)

 

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