CBI arrests 4 bank exam imposters, including CGST Inspector, in multi-state bust
Synopsis
A CBI operation has exposed a multi-state bank exam fraud ring where imposters — including a serving CGST Inspector — physically sat written tests and interviews on behalf of real candidates in IBPS recruitments. The arrests span four states, and a separate CBI trap has simultaneously netted a Kendriya Vidyalaya principal in Madhya Pradesh for a ₹3 lakh bribe shakedown.
Key Takeaways
The CBI arrested four imposters on 8 October who posed as candidates in IBPS bank recruitment exams across Delhi, Bihar, Haryana , and West Bengal .
One of the arrested operatives is a CGST Inspector , pointing to insider complicity in the cheating network.
The CBI Special Task Branch, Mumbai executed the coordinated multi-state raids after IBPS filed an FIR.
In a separate case, Kendriya Vidyalaya Principal Shraddha Pathak was arrested on 7 October for demanding ₹3 lakh in bribes to release ₹8 lakh in pending renovation payments via GeM .
The complaint against Pathak was filed by Rishi Jain of R.J.
International Supplier ; CBI verified it on 6 October before springing the trap.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, 8 October dismantled a sophisticated impersonation and cheating network spanning Delhi, Bihar, Haryana, and West Bengal, arresting four key operatives who fraudulently appeared in banking recruitment examinations on behalf of actual candidates. Among those arrested was a CGST Inspector — underscoring how deep insider complicity ran in the racket.
How the Racket Operated
According to the CBI, the accused physically impersonated real candidates at multiple stages of the selection process, including written examinations and personal interviews, for posts advertised by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). The agency had registered a First Information Report (FIR) on a complaint filed directly by IBPS.
The CBI Special Task Branch, Mumbai executed coordinated, multi-state raids to net the four individuals. Investigators said the network deprived genuine aspirants of rightful opportunities by substituting trained imposters at key evaluation stages — a method that is difficult to detect without biometric verification at every checkpoint.
Separate KV Principal Arrested for Bribery in Madhya Pradesh
In an unrelated operation, the CBI on 7 October arrested Shraddha Pathak, Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Itarsi, Madhya Pradesh, and a middleman on bribery charges. The case was registered after allegations surfaced that Pathak had demanded ₹3 lakh as an undue advantage from Bhopal-based firms in exchange for releasing ₹8 lakh in pending payments owed to them for renovation work at the school — work that had been awarded through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
The complaint was filed by Rishi Jain, proprietor of R.J. International Supplier, whose firm was awaiting payment clearance. The CBI Bhopal Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) verified the complaint on 6 October in the presence of an independent witness, confirming the demand. The FIR was filed with approval from Ganga Ram Punia, Superintendent of Police, CBI/Special Police Establishment, Bhopal ACB.
Investigators laid a trap and caught Pathak and the middleman in the act of accepting the bribe amount. Searches were subsequently conducted at residential and office premises of the accused in Itarsi and Agra, and property-related documents have been seized.
Pattern of Systemic Corruption in Public Hiring
The bank exam impersonation case is part of a broader, troubling pattern. Exam fraud networks have repeatedly targeted IBPS and other public-sector recruitment processes, exploiting gaps in candidate identity verification. The involvement of a serving government official — the CGST Inspector — points to a nexus between state insiders and organised cheating syndicates.
Notably, this is not the first time the CBI has intervened in IBPS-related fraud; earlier busts in preceding years involved similar proxy-examination rings. Critics argue that without robust biometric de-duplication at all exam stages, such networks will continue to resurface.
What Happens Next
All four arrested operatives in the bank exam case are expected to be produced before a competent court, with the CBI likely seeking custody for further interrogation to uncover the full extent of the racket and identify candidate beneficiaries. In the KV bribery case, the seized documents will be examined to determine whether additional officials facilitated the payment hold. Both cases signal an intensified CBI focus on corruption in public-sector processes ahead of upcoming recruitment cycles.
Point of View
And repeated proxy-exam busts point to a systemic verification failure rather than isolated bad actors. The CBI's intervention is welcome, but the real accountability question is whether IBPS and other recruitment bodies will upgrade biometric safeguards, or whether the cycle of bust-and-resumption continues. Meanwhile, the KV bribery case — though smaller in scale — is a reminder that GeM, designed to streamline government procurement, is not immune to payment-release extortion at the school level.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did the CBI arrest in the bank exam impersonation case?
The CBI arrested four individuals who posed as candidates in IBPS bank recruitment exams, including a CGST Inspector. The arrests followed a multi-state operation across Delhi, Bihar, Haryana, and West Bengal on 8 October.
What is IBPS and why was it targeted?
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts large-scale recruitment examinations for public-sector banks across India. It was targeted because its high-stakes exams — drawing lakhs of applicants — make impersonation fraud financially lucrative for organised rings.
How did the bank exam impersonation network work?
The accused physically appeared in place of real candidates at multiple stages of the IBPS selection process, including written examinations and personal interviews. They were paid by candidate beneficiaries to secure placements in banking jobs fraudulently.
Who is Shraddha Pathak and what are the charges against her?
Shraddha Pathak is the Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Itarsi, Madhya Pradesh. She was arrested on 7 October after the CBI caught her accepting a ₹3 lakh bribe from Bhopal-based firms in exchange for releasing ₹8 lakh in pending renovation payments owed through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
What happens next in both CBI cases?
In the bank exam fraud case, the four accused are expected to be produced before a court with the CBI seeking custody to identify candidate beneficiaries and the full network. In the KV bribery case, seized property documents will be examined and further investigation will determine whether other officials were involved.
