Lucknow: In a major blow to organised exam fraud, the Meerut unit of Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force and Uttarakhand Special Task Force have jointly busted a high-tech cheating racket operating during the SSC MTS examination, arresting two key operatives from Dehradun. The arrests were made in the Kotwali police station area following a coordinated raid.
The accused have been identified as Nitish Kumar (a resident of Deoria, Uttar Pradesh) and Bhaskar Naithani (a resident of Dehradun, Uttarakhand). Investigators said the duo had illegally accessed computers at the exam centre and were supplying answers to candidates in remote mode, using a parallel local network and proxy servers to bypass official monitoring systems.
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STF officials revealed that the entire operation was being controlled from a private computer facility, Mahadev Digital Zone, where a master computer was used to manage the network. Question papers were viewed by external operators, who transmitted answers in real time to candidates seated inside the centre. Preliminary findings suggest the system was deliberately configured to evade routine surveillance tools and avoid detection by authorised servers.
Mobiles, laptops and router seized
During the raid, the STF recovered four mobile phones, two laptops and an internet router. All digital devices have been sent for forensic examination. Officials said IP logs, call detail records and possible bank transactions are being analysed to trace other members of the network, including operators and beneficiary candidates.
Sources indicated that the gang had been targeting competitive examinations for some time, charging hefty sums from aspirants in exchange for guaranteed answers. Agencies are also probing whether there was any collusion at the centre-management level or if the racket was run entirely through an external cyber setup.
Network may extend beyond Uttarakhand
Investigators believe the racket is not confined to Uttarakhand alone. Early technical leads point to links in Uttar Pradesh and possibly other states. A senior STF officer said cases have been registered under the IT Act and relevant criminal sections, and custodial remand may be sought to extract further details about the wider network.
Direct attack on exam credibility
Officials stressed that such high-tech cheating not only sabotages the careers of deserving candidates but also undermines the credibility of the entire recruitment process. In response, the STF has recommended tighter cyber audits, enhanced network monitoring and stricter technical surveillance at sensitive examination centres.
The Dehradun operation is being seen as a significant success for the STF. Agencies are confident that more names connected to the racket will surface in the coming days, potentially exposing a broader exam mafia operating across multiple states — and paving the way for intensified action against organised cheating syndicates nationwide.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
