CBI arrests four for paper leak

MUMBAI - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Sunday arrested four people in connection with a question paper leak ahead of an examination for recruitment of lower division clerks in the Indian Navy, an official said here.

Rishi Raj Singh, joint director, CBI (West Zone), said: “We have arrested Rambir Singh Rawat, owner of Mansa International Defence Recruitment Agency in Vishakapatnam; Hoshiar Singh Rawat, a Haryana-based teacher; and R.C. Naik and D.S. Murthy, administrative officers of naval dockyards here and in Kolkata, for leaking examination papers to 150 students.”

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the CBI raided the United Lodge in south Mumbai Saturday and recovered copies of the question paper for the LDC recruitment examination along with answer codes. Cash of Rs.185,000 were also found from the accused.

The accused charged between Rs.15,000-Rs.50,000 from 138 students to hand over the question papers. Around 35,000 candidates appeared in the examination held Sunday to fill up 175 posts.

“Handwritten receipts acknowledging payments were recovered from the candidates. Hoshiar Singh also trained candidates on how to answer the questions,” Singh said.

The accused had booked the entire lodge in advance to train the candidates to answer the questions. All the candidates who paid the amount were accommodated at the lodge along with the accused.

The question papers for the examination were printed in Pune, from where the accused leaked the papers.

“Rawat and Murthy leaked the question paper using a pen drive and took out a number of copies,” said CBI Deputy Inspector General Pravin Salunke.

An Indian Navy spokesperson, however, said that the examination was conducted in spite of the paper leak.

“The navy conducted the examination keeping in view the large gathering of candidates but has decided to scrap this test due to the paper leak. The examination will be rescheduled. An inquiry has been ordered by the Western Naval Command,” the spokesperson said.

Singh said that the candidates who bought the papers will be witnesses in the case.

“We have sent our investigation report to the board that conducts the examination. The accused will be presented before the court Monday,” Singh said.

“We are also trying to find out if any other staff or officer from the navy was involved in the racket,” he added.

Rawat has been named as the kingpin in the scam.

“He was a sailor and resigned six years ago. He was running 15 placement agencies throughout the country and was also involved in developing software that was to aid the army in its operations.”

The CBI, last month also made arrests in a similar case at the Eastern Naval Command, when 400 of the 45,000 candidates who appeared for the 475 posts, had allegedly paid for the question paper.