The Lok Rakshak Dal (LRD) recruitment exam is likely to take place on January 6, a senior official said on Wednesday, even as the number of people arrested in the paper leak case went up to 12.

Gandhinagar police said that four more persons were arrested on Wednesday. The four – Jayendra Raval, Bharat Chaudhary, Nava Vaghadiya, and Sandeep Chaudhary – had allegedly helped the candidates in accessing the leaked paper.

Sandeep is the brother of Mukesh Chaudhary, who was among the first persons caught after the leak took place, while Raval is an associate of Manhar Patel, who was also arrested earlier.

CCTV footage of Manhar Patel meeting two policemen, including PSI PV Patel, who was arrested earlier, at a private hotel in Aravalli, has also emerged.

The police had until Tuesday, arrested eight persons, including a PSI and two BJP members, in the case. However, Yashpalsinh Solanki, who has emerged as the main conspirator of the paper leak, continues to elude them.

Meanwhile, a senior government official said that the exam is likely to take place in January.

"The exam will most likely be held on January 6. A formal announcement will be made soon," he said.

The paper leak case was also discussed in the cabinet, which lauded the decision to scrap the exam, energy minister Saurabh Patel told reporters. He said the government would not spare anyone involved in the paper leak.

"Whether the person is a BJP worker or from Congress, he will not be spared. Some people have already been arrested. Police have been asked to take strict action," he said.

Investigation so far has revealed involvement of a Gurgaon-based gang that specialises in leaking exam papers. The gang had allegedly provided the leaked question paper to candidates on November 29. Each candidate had given a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the gang, albeit with the condition that they would be encashed only if the leaked paper matched the exam paper. Around two dozen candidates had gone to Gurgaon and accessed the paper, according to officials.

The exam was slated to take place on December 2, but was cancelled just two hours before it could commence because of the paper leak. Over 8 lakh candidates were slated to appear for the exam.

CONG SEEKS JAC PROBE IN PAST RECRUITMENT

• Alleging widespread irregularities in government recruitment in the state, the Opposition Congress today demanded a probe by a joint assembly committee into recruitment made in the last 15 years.   
• Senior MLA Virgin Thummar said that such a move would allow the truth to come out.