Deoghar: The investigation into the alleged fraud linked to the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level examination has now reached Deoghar.
Acting on a tip-off, police raided a house in the Baijnathpur Bandha area and arrested Sudhakar Yadav, who had been working as a clerk in the Ranchi Secretariat. Several cheques, certificates and other documents belonging to students were recovered from his possession. Preliminary questioning has indicated that he allegedly arranged “settings” for the jobs of around two dozen candidates.
Sudhakar Yadav, originally from the Jaipur police station area of Bihar’s Banka district, had been working as a clerk in the Ranchi Secretariat since 2018. During questioning, he reportedly told investigators that he had been transferred to Dumka and was therefore staying in Deoghar.
However, investigators suspect that he had received information that the Criminal Investigation Department team probing the JSSC-CGL fraud could reach him. He allegedly began staying at the Deoghar location to avoid being traced.
After receiving information about his whereabouts, police conducted the raid and arrested him. Several documents, including cheques and certificates belonging to students, were recovered during the search. Investigators are now trying to identify the candidates associated with the documents, determine whether money was taken from them and establish the extent of the alleged network involved in arranging jobs.
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Preliminary questioning has also brought out claims that Sudhakar had allegedly promised to arrange jobs for around two dozen candidates. The aspect is considered significant in the wider investigation because the alleged JSSC-CGL fraud is already being examined for possible links involving candidates, intermediaries and an alleged paper-leak network. Investigators are now questioning Sudhakar about his contacts and his possible role in the broader network.
Another important lead has emerged in connection with Hazaribagh. During the investigation, information surfaced that around 1,200 candidates had allegedly been gathered at one location for preparation for the CGL examination.
It is alleged that the candidates were made to memorise questions and answers that could potentially appear in the examination. Investigators are now examining why such a large number of candidates were brought together and whether they were allegedly provided with any information about the examination before it was held.
Following the developments in the case, a CID team has left Ranchi for Deoghar. Sudhakar Yadav is expected to be taken to Ranchi for further questioning. Investigators are likely to question him in detail about alleged intermediaries, candidates, financial transactions and his contacts with other suspected individuals linked to the CGL fraud.
The cheques and certificates recovered from his possession are also being examined as potential evidence. Investigators may use the documents to identify the concerned candidates and question them about their dealings with Sudhakar. They will also examine whether any of the candidates allegedly paid money to Sudhakar or people associated with him in exchange for promises of securing government jobs.
The JSSC-CGL fraud investigation has already involved questioning of several candidates and other suspected individuals. The Deoghar arrest could therefore widen the scope of the probe.
Investigators are now focusing on determining how far the alleged job-setting network extended, who else was involved and whether an organised group was operating to provide candidates with advance access to questions and answers or to promise jobs in exchange for money.
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