A major solver gang involved in cheating during Army recruitment examinations was busted on Saturday during the MTS-Tradesman recruitment test conducted at the 510 Army Base Workshop in Meerut. In a joint operation by Army Police, Army Intelligence and local police, 10 accused linked to the racket were arrested. Investigators revealed that the gang allegedly used Bluetooth devices, concealed mobile phones and fake biometric techniques to help candidates clear the examination.
Officials said Army Police and Army Intelligence teams had been deployed at the examination center to monitor security arrangements and prevent malpractice. The written examination was being conducted between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. During routine checks, some candidates were found behaving suspiciously. A search operation led to the recovery of seven miniature Bluetooth devices from several candidates, while two specially concealed mobile phones were seized from other accused.
FCRF Academy Launches Premier Anti-Money Laundering Certification Program
19 Detained, 10 Arrested; Sandeep‑Led Gang and High‑Fee Network
Following preliminary questioning, investigating agencies detained a total of 19 individuals, including candidates and alleged members of the solver gang. Later, 10 of them were formally arrested, while the role of the remaining suspects is still being examined. Police sources said one woman candidate was also among those detained in connection with the case.
Investigators believe the entire network was being operated by a gang led by Sandeep, a resident of Jind district in Haryana. Police sources suspect the group may have been active in Army recruitment and other competitive examinations for a long time. According to investigators, the gang allegedly charged between ₹3 lakh and ₹4 lakh per candidate for securing recruitment, while in some cases the amount was reportedly even higher.
Bluetooth‑Delivered Answers and Candidate‑Substitution Scheme
The investigation further revealed that some candidates were called to Meerut’s Kankerkhera area before the examination, where they were allegedly provided with Bluetooth devices and technical equipment. Police believe gang members had positioned themselves near the examination center and were transmitting answers through mobile networks. The recovered devices were extremely small and could easily be hidden inside clothing or inside the ear canal.
Another significant incident surfaced during the investigation when one accused was caught appearing in the examination on behalf of another candidate. During biometric verification, his identity failed to match official records, leading to his detention. Investigators later discovered that a candidate from Hathras had allegedly hired Rahul Kumar, a resident of Agra, to appear in the examination in exchange for ₹12 lakh. The accused reportedly used original educational certificates and forged identity details to enter the recruitment process.
Expansion of Probe, Technical‑Gang Focus, and Cyber‑Expert Warnings
Police officials said the investigation is now being expanded to determine the full extent of the network. Authorities suspect the gang may have been involved in recruitment examination fraud not only in Meerut but also in several other states. The Meerut SWAT team has been deployed to trace the main accused, Sandeep, and his associates. Investigators claim to have recovered crucial digital and technical leads that may result in further arrests.
Cybersecurity and examination-monitoring experts say incidents involving the use of technical devices for cheating in recruitment exams have increased sharply in recent years. Organized gangs are increasingly using miniature Bluetooth devices, micro earpieces and hidden communication tools to compromise examination systems. In several cases, such networks also rely on social engineering tactics and forged documents to bypass security checks.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said organized examination mafias are now using advanced digital techniques and professional networks to infiltrate recruitment systems. According to him, investigations in such cases should not focus only on candidates but also on the technical support network, device suppliers and those involved in preparing forged documents.
A case has been registered at Sadar police station, and the investigation is continuing. Police officials believe that analysis of digital devices, call records and financial transactions could lead to more significant revelations regarding the recruitment scam in the coming days.
