- Three JPSC members resigned following CID summonses.
- Investigation targets OMR sheet manipulation and exam rigging.
- CID probing 14th Civil Services Exam irregularities.
The investigation into alleged irregularities and OMR sheet manipulation in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations is steadily expanding. Following the resignation of former Commission Chairman L Khiangte, three JPSC members, Dr Ajita Bhattacharya, Dr Anima Hansda, and Dr Jamal Ahmed, have tendered their resignations to the Governor.
The resignations come after the Jharkhand Police CID issued summonses to them for questioning. Dr Bhattacharya is scheduled to be questioned by the CID on Monday.
CID's grip and summons
The CID is investigating allegations of large-scale rigging, tampering of OMR sheets and passing of ineligible candidates in the conduct of JPSC's 14th Civil Services Examination and other examinations.
In this connection, the CID had called these three female and male members of the Commission (Dr Ajita Bhattacharya, Dr Anima Hansda and Dr Jamal Ahmed) for questioning on different dates.
Chairman has already resigned
Earlier, following the CID raid on the office and residence of the then JPSC Chairman and former Jharkhand Chief Secretary L Khiangte, he had resigned from his post, which was accepted by the Governor.
The Commission was already in a caretaker position after the Chairman's removal. The CID is interrogating the computer operator at Khiangte's residence, who has been remanded to custody. Khiangte has also been questioned twice at the CID office.
Major action against agencies and middlemen
The director of the controversial exam conducting agency, TDPL, and marketing manager Abhay Tiwari, along with several other brokers and computer operators, have already been arrested by the CID. The TDPL manager has made serious allegations against the former chairman.
The interrogation of the accused on remand has revealed several significant revelations, based on which direct action is now being taken against the Commission's top officials. The sudden resignations of members, amid strong evidence of irregularities in the appointment process and OMR, have once again raised serious questions about the credibility of this constitutional institution in Jharkhand.