The investigation into alleged irregularities and the merit scam involving Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations has now expanded to coaching institutes. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Sunday conducted searches at two coaching centres in Ranchi and Hazaribagh and at premises linked to their operators. Investigators collected several documents and other materials that are being examined as possible evidence in the case.
The CID conducted a search at Shivangan Ki Pathshala in Lalpur, Ranchi. The residence of its director and operator, Sanjeet Kumar, in the Ratu Road area was also searched. In Hazaribagh, investigators examined records at Megha Coaching Centre. The agency is now scrutinising documents recovered from these locations to determine whether the institutes had any role in the alleged manipulation of the examination process.
Investigators suspect that some coaching operators and people associated with them may have established a network to help candidates clear JPSC examinations through alleged contacts and financial transactions. The probe is examining allegations of manipulation of OMR sheets, providing answers to candidates during examinations and influencing the examination process.
The CID had earlier arrested several candidates and agents in connection with the case. During questioning, information provided by the arrested individuals reportedly brought the role of the coaching institutes under scrutiny. Investigators are now comparing the statements of the accused with documents and other material recovered during the searches.
The investigation has also uncovered indications of multiple irregularities in the examination process. The agency is examining how question papers were allegedly accessed before the examination, how answers were reportedly provided to candidates from outside examination centres and at what stage OMR sheets could have been manipulated. Investigators are also examining the possibility of an organised network operating behind the alleged irregularities.
The case has been registered as CID police station case number 16/2026. Investigators are working to establish links between coaching institutes, agents, candidates and other individuals associated with the examination process. Mobile numbers, transaction records, candidate details and other documents are being examined to establish the structure and financial trail of the alleged network.
Questioning Continues in JSSC Case
Meanwhile, the CID Special Investigation Team continued questioning in a separate case involving alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). Abhay Kumar Tiwari, alias Manoj Kumar Tiwari, who has been described by investigators as an alleged mastermind and was working as a marketing manager with TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), the agency involved in conducting examinations, was questioned for the second consecutive day.
Abhay Tiwari’s wife, Sushma Kumari, and his brother, Akshay Tiwari, are also being questioned as part of the investigation. The agency is seeking information about the alleged examination syndicate, arrangements made to help candidates clear examinations, financial transactions and activities linked to the question papers.
Investigators are examining who allegedly provided assistance to candidates, how much money was involved, where and through which channels payments were made, and how question papers or answers were allegedly made available to candidates.
As the investigations into the JPSC and JSSC cases progress, the CID is examining the connections emerging between candidates, agents, coaching operators and other individuals. The immediate focus remains on identifying the alleged syndicate, tracing financial transactions and determining whether there was any internal involvement in manipulating the examination process.
Further action will be decided after the documents recovered during the searches and information obtained during questioning are analysed.
