Vimal Bhatia | tnn
The exam centre in Jaisalmer where the cheating took place
The exam centre in Jaisalmer where the cheating took place
Jaisalmer: The investigation into the alleged cheating during the second shift of the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board’s LDC recruitment exam at a Jaisalmer centre intensified following the registration of an FIR and the arrest of two key suspects late Wednesday night.The main accused, Padam Singh, was remanded to four days of police custody, while the second suspect, candidate Manu Kanwar, was ordered to remain in custody for one day by a local court Thursday.Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shivhare said that both suspects were arrested after a preliminary investigation revealed that Singh, acting as a replacement for the exam invigilator, allegedly assisted Kanwar by providing unauthorised help during the test.The FIR identifies five individuals as suspects, including Singh, Kanwar, and the examination centre in-charge, Ummed Singh, among others. The exam was held across Rajasthan on July 5.Additional Superintendent of Police Renwat Dan said the FIR was filed by District Education Officer Mahesh Bissa, following an inquiry conducted by a sub-divisional magistrate. This inquiry allegedly uncovered evidence that Singh took Kanwar’s question paper outside the examination hall to solve it using artificial intelligence.A critical aspect of the investigation is the discovery of a nine-minute gap in the CCTV footage recorded during the exam. Preliminary reports indicate that the CCTV cameras were non-functional during this period, raising suspicions of either technical failure or deliberate tampering.Investigators found that at 3:09pm, Singh, dressed in traditional attire, approached Kanwar’s desk and examined her question paper. By 3:36pm, he allegedly returned with a register, took the question paper, and exited the examination hall. Moments later, at 3:39pm, Kanwar was allegedly left without her question paper, prompting protests from another candidate about the unfair assistance provided by the examination centre official.The alleged scandal came to light after several candidates voiced their concerns, leading the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB) to initiate an inquiry with the district administration.Barmer MP Ummeda Ram Beniwal criticised the nearly 72-hour delay in registering the FIR, expressing worries that the incident was being treated merely as a case of cheating rather than investigating the potential for a widespread paper leak. Beniwal called for an independent, high-level investigation, urging a comprehensive review of previous recruitment exams, including the integrity of examination staff and claims of irregularities involving the selections of their relatives and associates.Jaisalmer SP Shivhare said all aspects of the case were currently undergoing thorough examination.
