Lucknow. In a major crackdown on irregularities in government recruitment examinations, the Uttar Pradesh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has arrested three accused in connection with the 2018 Village Development Officer (VDO) recruitment exam scam. The action was carried out under “Operation Shikanja”, under which authorities are intensifying efforts to trace absconding suspects linked to the case.
Three Accused Arrested
According to police officials, the arrested individuals have been identified as Gangesh Kumar from Azamgarh, Vipin Chaudhary from Sant Kabir Nagar, and Sushil Kumar from Jaunpur. All three were arrested on June 8 from different locations. Gangesh was apprehended near Sidhari police station premises, Vipin was caught near a hospital in Khalilabad, while Sushil was arrested from close to his native village.
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The case is linked to the 2018 recruitment examination conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), which included selections for Village Development Officer, Social Welfare Supervisor, and Gram Panchayat Officer posts, covering a total of 1,953 vacancies. The examination process had been outsourced to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to ensure transparency, but later allegations of serious irregularities surfaced.
Probe Shifted To EOW
Following complaints, the state government initially handed over the investigation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was later merged into the EOW. After a detailed probe, a case was registered at Vibhuti Khand police station, followed by a fresh FIR under charges of forgery, manipulation of records, and criminal conspiracy.
Investigators have so far identified around 173 individuals linked to the racket. These include candidates, intermediaries, and alleged insiders. Officials suggest that the case is not a simple instance of malpractice but a well-organized recruitment scam operating through a coordinated network.
OMR Sheets Under Scanner
EOW officials allege that certain candidates were given undue advantage in exchange for money, with their OMR answer sheets manipulated to inflate scores. The process reportedly involved collusion between middlemen and insiders, compromising the integrity of the selection system and depriving deserving candidates of fair opportunities.
The investigation has further revealed that the network operated in a structured manner across multiple districts, with individuals connected through financial transactions and coordinated communication channels. Digital and documentary evidence is gradually helping investigators uncover deeper layers of the racket.
More Arrests Likely
The EOW has stated that the investigation is still ongoing, and more arrests are likely in the coming days. Teams are continuously conducting raids to trace absconding accused, while technical evidence is being thoroughly examined.
Officials added that in such cases, analysis of banking records, call detail records, and examination-related digital data plays a crucial role in mapping the entire network and identifying links between different accused.
The case has once again raised serious questions over the transparency of recruitment examinations and exposed vulnerabilities within the system. It has also highlighted how organized gangs continue to exploit examination processes over long periods, impacting the future of thousands of aspirants.
