The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force has arrested a key accused in the Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer Preliminary Examination 2023 paper leak case, nearly two years after he allegedly went absconding. The accused, identified as Alok Mishra of Ghazipur district, was apprehended from the Munshipura area of Mau district in a targeted operation linked to the wider examination leak network.
Investigators believe Mishra was an important link in the alleged racket and his arrest may help uncover the network’s operational structure, financial trail and remaining associates. Several other accused connected to the case have already been arrested and sent to jail.
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Question Paper Leak Triggered Exam Cancellation
The case relates to the RO-ARO preliminary examination conducted on February 11, 2024. Before the examination began, complaints surfaced that the question paper had been circulating on social media and other digital platforms.
Following protests by candidates and preliminary indications of irregularities, the state government cancelled the examination and ordered a detailed investigation. The probe was later handed over to the STF, which began tracing an alleged network operating across multiple states.
According to investigators, Mishra had been frequently changing locations to avoid arrest. STF officials said sustained tracking and fresh leads helped them locate and arrest him from Mau district.
Candidates Allegedly Called to Bhopal Hotel
Investigators claim the alleged paper leak operation was carried out in an organised manner. Candidates were reportedly promised access to examination papers before the test in exchange for substantial sums of money.
According to the probe, several candidates were allegedly called to Bhopal a few days before the examination. At a hotel in the city, they were reportedly provided with General Studies and Hindi examination questions along with answer keys.
Authorities allege that candidates were given limited time to study and memorise the material before the documents were taken back. Investigators said many of the same questions later appeared in the actual examination, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the recruitment process.
Money Trail and Wider Network Under Probe
Sources involved in the investigation claim that each candidate was allegedly asked to pay several lakhs of rupees for access to the leaked material. In some cases, advance payments were reportedly collected, while personal documents were allegedly taken as assurance.
The STF is now examining the source of the leak and the full chain through which the question papers and answer keys were allegedly distributed. Investigators are also reviewing financial transactions, digital communications and the role of brokers and intermediaries linked to the case.
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said examination leak rackets have evolved into organised crime operations that require close scrutiny of digital records, banking trails and interstate connections. The STF is continuing its search for other accused persons, suspected brokers and possible collaborators as fresh leads emerge from the latest arrest.
