Ranchi, Aug 3 (IANS) The Jharkhand Crime Investigation Department (CID), which is probing alleged irregularities in the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Civil Services Preliminary Examination, launched a major statewide crackdown on Monday, carrying out simultaneous raids at more than 20 locations across the state.
Teams of the CID conducted searches in Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Deoghar, Godda, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh and Palamu districts.
The raids also covered several coaching institutes and premises linked to individuals under the scanner, including locations in Ranchi’s Dhurwa and Namkum areas.
The action is focused on persons and institutions whose names have surfaced during the investigation or who are suspected to have had links to the examination process.
During the searches, investigators examined documents, computers, laptops, mobile phones, digital storage devices and other electronic equipment.
Several important documents and digital records have reportedly been seized and will be subjected to forensic analysis as part of the ongoing probe.
Earlier, the CID had raided the offices of the JPSC and the examination-conducting agency TDPL, seizing a number of documents and electronic records related to the conduct of the examination.
So far, 11 individuals associated with the Commission and the examination process have been arrested. Based on information gathered during their interrogation, the scope of the investigation is being widened further.
As part of the same investigation, former JPSC Chairman and former Jharkhand Chief Secretary L. Khiangte has already been questioned several times. He has again been summoned for questioning on Monday.
The agency is currently piecing together evidence related to the conduct of the examination, management of question papers, evaluation procedures and other operational aspects of the recruitment process.
Officials believe that forensic examination of the seized documents and digital data could lead to fresh revelations and further action against other persons in the coming days.
The controversy erupted after large-scale irregularities were alleged in the results of the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination.
Student protests have continued in Ranchi, with demonstrators demanding cancellation of the examination and an impartial investigation into the alleged malpractice.
–IANS
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