The much-publicized Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment exam paper leak case in Rajasthan has taken a major turn, as the Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested three more individuals allegedly involved in the scandal. This development marks a crucial point in the ongoing investigation that has exposed the rot within the government recruitment machinery.
SOG ADG V.K. Singh confirmed the arrests of Kundan Kumar Pandya (54), Sandeep Kumar Lata (42), and Purushottam Dadhich (35) on Thursday. All three were detained from different districts and are believed to have played critical roles in leaking the exam paper and facilitating its distribution.
Who Are the Accused? Government Employees Turned Conspirators
The newly arrested individuals are not mere intermediaries but government employees who allegedly misused their official positions to undermine the integrity of the SI recruitment process:
- Purushottam Dadhich: Suspended Assistant Accountant-I in the Medical and Health Department, Udaipur, arrested from Kishangarh. He had a reward announced on his head and had been absconding. Considered a key conspirator, he allegedly helped leak the exam paper before the test.
- Sandeep Kumar Lata: Serving as Assistant Accountant-I in the Treasury and Accounts Department at Finance Bhawan, Jaipur, he was arrested by the SOG in Jaipur. He allegedly played a central role in facilitating and delivering the leaked papers to selected candidates.
- Kundan Kumar Pandya: A Grade III employee from Dungarpur district, arrested during a raid in Udaipur. Though lower in rank, his involvement indicates how multiple levels of the bureaucracy were co-opted into the scam.
The arrests follow the earlier detention of SI Renu, Surendra Bagadia, and Surjeet, who were accused of leaking the paper and training candidates in advance. These recent developments confirm that the scam was not limited to external brokers but included insiders at various administrative levels.
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Organized Network Behind Exam Scam: SOG Investigation Reveals Systematic Corruption
The SOG’s ongoing investigation reveals that the SI paper leak was not an isolated act but part of a larger, well-organized network designed to exploit government recruitment exams. This criminal infrastructure allegedly involved:
- Access to printing sources and confidential paper storage
- A network to identify “clients” and facilitate financial transactions
- Distribution of leaked papers to candidates in advance
- Organized teaching sessions to train selected candidates before the exam
Evidence collected so far indicates that the accused coordinated closely with brokers and other officials, forming a chain that compromised not just the SI exam, but possibly other recruitment processes in the state as well. Authorities are examining connections to other exams and how many undeserving candidates may have secured jobs through this racket.
Sources suggest that the SOG is preparing for more arrests, with several mid- and senior-level officials and agents already under surveillance.
Public Trust Shattered, Government Under Pressure for Reform
The scandal has deeply shaken the trust of lakhs of aspirants who prepared for the SI exam in good faith, only to find the recruitment system rigged. This breach has ignited widespread public anger and raised serious questions about the state’s recruitment mechanisms.
The SOG is now compiling a comprehensive report that will be submitted to the Rajasthan government. It will not only document the extent of the scam but will also include recommendations for systemic reforms, including:
- Stricter control over exam printing and logistics
- Digital encryption and tracking mechanisms
- Stronger whistleblower protections
- Enhanced vetting of government personnel with access to exam materials
With the issue now reaching the highest echelons of the government, calls for transparency and accountability in the public examination system have gained momentum.