Prayagraj: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has uncovered an alleged organized examination fraud racket at the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Naini, in Prayagraj, where candidates were allegedly helped clear online examinations by deploying “solvers” to take tests on their behalf. The operation led to the arrest of 11 accused, including the institute’s principal, the examination in-charge, four instructors and five alleged solvers. A total of 19 individuals have been named in the FIR. Investigators suspect the network had been operating for several years and may have facilitated fraudulent examinations for hundreds of candidates.
According to the STF, the accused allegedly charged candidates around ₹4,000 each to arrange for trained solvers to appear in online examinations in place of genuine applicants. Investigators said the solvers were first provided with photocopies of the candidates’ admit cards and were then seated in a separate computer laboratory inside the examination centre. Using the candidate’s date of birth and other credentials, they allegedly logged into the examination portal and completed the tests. During preliminary interrogation, investigators also learned that each solver was reportedly paid around ₹500 for every examination completed.
The STF said it had been receiving intelligence inputs over several days regarding large-scale malpractice during the All India Vocational Examination being conducted between July 11 and August 8. After verifying the information, a special operation was planned. Acting during the third examination shift on Wednesday, STF teams raided the Skill Development Building inside the institute campus, where several individuals were allegedly found engaged in suspicious activities. The accused were detained on the spot and subsequently arrested following questioning.
Searches conducted during the operation resulted in the seizure of ₹5.10 lakh in cash, five computers, six Android mobile phones and 67 examination-related documents. Investigators also recovered Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, ATM cards, a pen drive and an additional ₹16,370 in cash from other locations connected to the accused. The seized digital devices and documents are being subjected to forensic examination to reconstruct the alleged examination fraud, identify beneficiaries and trace financial transactions linked to the network.
Investigators believe the alleged malpractice may have been continuing for several years. The STF suspects that more than 500 candidates may have benefited from the solver network during previous examinations. Officials are now examining records of earlier examinations, computer login data, CCTV footage, digital evidence and candidate documents to determine the full extent of the alleged operation. The investigation will also seek to establish whether similar methods were used in other examination centres.
Those arrested have been identified as Principal Ashok Kumar; Examination In-charge Ravi Prakash; instructors Phool Prakash, Dheeraj Kumar Sharma, Rajesh Kumar and Rajkumar Maurya; and alleged solvers Shivam Kumar, Jai Singh, Jitendra Patel, Dilip Kumar Patel and Ranvijay Singh. Meanwhile, eight other accused remain absconding. They include instructors Bholanath, Dheeranjan Kumar and Santosh Kumar Soni, along with candidates Faizan, Raman Mishra, Dhanpat, Sachin Patel and Dhirendra Kumar. STF and local police teams are conducting raids to secure their arrest.
Based on a complaint filed by an STF sub-inspector, Naini Police have registered a case against all 19 accused under various provisions of law. Investigators are now examining whether the alleged racket extended beyond the institute and involved external agents, technology facilitators or additional examination centres. Financial records, banking transactions and digital evidence are also being scrutinized to identify the money trail and other possible beneficiaries. Officials have stated that further legal action will depend on the evidence collected during the ongoing investigation, while all allegations remain subject to judicial determination and the accused retain the right to defend themselves in accordance with law.
