The CBI took over the investigation into the case on August 3 on a reference from the Jammu and Kashmir government.The CBI has arrested an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and four CRPF personnel among seven people in connection with a case relating to alleged malpractices in the recruitment of probationary sub-inspectors in J&K Police, a spokesperson of the agency said on Thursday.
The agency took their custody after presenting them before a court in Jammu, the spokesperson said.
The arrested men have been identified as CRPF head constable Pawan Kumar; CRPF constables Atul Kumar, Amit Kumar Sharma, and Sunil Sharma; J&K Police ASI Jaisuriya Sharma; and two civilians, Tarsem Lal and Asheesh Yadav.
The agency had earlier arrested 13 people in the case. Among those arrested were an ASI and two constables of J&K Police, one CRPF official and an ex-constable of the paramilitary force, a BSF commandant, and a government school teacher in J&K.
On Tuesday, CBI had conducted searches at seven locations in Jammu, Pathankot (Punjab), Rewari and Karnal (both in Haryana) in connection with the recruitment scam. The CBI took over the investigation on August 3 on J&K administration’s reference.
The case pertains to leak of question paper for the examination through which 1,200 posts of sub-inspectors were to be filled by J&K Services Selection Board. “Investigation has so far revealed that payment of Rs 20 lakh to Rs 30 lakh was allegedly made by willing candidates and their families for getting the question paper before the examination,” the CBI spokesperson said.
The official said CBI had recently arrested a man identified as Pradeep Kumar, who worked as packing in-charge at a printing press based in Delhi’s Okhla area. “He allegedly stole the question paper at the time of packing and sold it to Rewari-based Yatin Yadav, who has also been arrested. Investigation has revealed that Yadav contacted the other touts based in J&K to lure candidates for sale of the leaked question paper,” the spokesperson said.
According to the CBI, the candidates were taken from Jammu to Karnal in vehicles arranged by J&K Police ASI Ashok Kumar a day before the examination. “In Karnal, a tout, Bajinder Singh, arranged a hotel where candidates were handed over the leaked question paper. One of the arrested CRPF personnel allegedly provided the leaked paper to certain candidates,” the spokesperson had said.
Results of the examination were declared on June 4 this year. After allegations of malpractice surfaced, the J&K administration constituted an inquiry committee to look into the matter. “It was alleged that the accused entered into a conspiracy amongst officials of JKSSB, a Bengaluru-based private company, beneficiary candidates and others, and caused gross irregularities…” the CBI spokesperson said.
It was also alleged that an “abnormally high percentage” of candidates were selected from Jammu, Rajouri, and Samba districts”, the agency stated.