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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday filed a supplementary charge sheet in the Special Judge, CBI Court, Lucknow, in connection with the paper leak of the UP Police Constable and Review Officer-Assistant Review Officer (RO-ARO) recruitment exams. The charge sheet names 18 accused, including the alleged masterminds of the leak: Rajeev Nayan Mishra, Ankit Shekhar, Shubham Mandal, Manish Sharma alias Monu, Bittu Singh Bahadur, Shyamveer Singh, Gaurav Kumar alias Gaurav, Sunil Raghuvanshi, Vishal Dubey, Vivek Upadhyay, Amarjeet Sharma, Kameshwar Nath, Amit Singh, Sharad Singh, Arun Singh, Naveen Singh, Puneet Singh, and Ayush Pandey.
This is the ED’s second charge sheet under the Money Laundering Act. It includes evidence related to the accused’s properties and bank accounts across Lucknow, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. The first charge sheet had listed only seven individuals.
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Background of the Exam Paper Leak
The paper leak incident occurred in February 2024. The Constable recruitment exams were held on February 17 and 18, while the RO and ARO exams were conducted on February 11. Following the breach of security protocols, both examinations were subsequently cancelled.
The state government had assigned the investigation to the Special Task Force (STF). During the inquiry, it was revealed that the accused, including masterminds Rajeev Nayan, Subhash Prakash, and Ravi Atri, had collected crores of rupees from candidates. Following this, the ED initiated a separate investigation under the Money Laundering Act and seized several properties linked to the accused.
Key Revelations in the Charge Sheet
The second ED charge sheet states that the funds obtained from leaking the RO recruitment exam paper in 2023 were used to finance the paper leak for the Constable recruitment exam. The total proceeds were then distributed among the members of the network.
During the investigation, the ED identified assets worth over ₹1 crore as proceeds of crime and confiscated them on August 6, 2024. The charge sheet contains detailed records of bank accounts, properties, and financial transactions as evidence.
STF Actions and Previous Filings
The STF has filed three charge sheets in this case so far. Both agencies have provided detailed accounts of the financial transactions, properties, and economic activities of each member of the network linked to the paper leak.
Prosecution and Legal Process
Following the filing of the charge sheet in the Special Judge, CBI Court, legal proceedings will move forward based on the evidence submitted. The accused will face scrutiny of their bank accounts, assets, and funds acquired from the paper leaks, and the provisions of the Money Laundering Act will apply.
Impact and Message
Experts note that this action sends a strong signal about the integrity and transparency of government recruitment processes. It highlights that attempts to manipulate examination systems and engage in corrupt practices will not be tolerated.
Over the past two years, this incident has emerged as one of the largest paper leak scandals in the UP Police recruitment process. The investigation and filing of charge sheets demonstrate that through coordinated legal and financial scrutiny, such crimes can be uncovered and the responsible individuals brought to justice.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
