JPSC former Chairman L. Khiangte arrested in ₹2 crore bribery and exam scam
Synopsis
The arrest of former JPSC Chairman L. Khiangte — after 30-plus hours of interrogation — puts the Jharkhand exam scam squarely at the top of the Commission's hierarchy. With a blacklisted agency allegedly paid ₹2 crore in bribes to run a civil services exam, and a Controller of Examinations whose written objection was reportedly ignored, this is no longer just a procurement lapse — it looks like a systemic cover-up.
Key Takeaways
Khiangte , former Chairman of the JPSC , was arrested by the CID on 10 August in connection with the 14th Civil Services Preliminary Examination scam.
Khiangte allegedly accepted a bribe of ₹2 crore and a commission of 20% of the total contract value from TDPL .
TDPL was blacklisted by the JSSC on 20 May 2025 , yet allegedly continued to receive examination contracts.
The then Controller of Examinations had submitted a written objection flagging TDPL's blacklisted status — reportedly overridden by senior officials.
The CID has now arrested 19 accused in total, including JPSC Deputy Controller Shweta Kumari Gupta and TDPL Director Ramvir Singh .
TDPL offices in Ranchi and Lucknow have been sealed; raids at Khiangte's residence on Kanke Road yielded documents and electronic devices.
The Jharkhand Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Monday, 10 August arrested L. Khiangte, the former Chairman of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), in connection with alleged bribery and procedural violations linked to the 14th Civil Services Preliminary Examination merit scam. The arrest marks a significant escalation in an investigation that has now netted 19 accused.
The Bribery Allegation
According to the CID, Khiangte allegedly accepted a bribe of approximately ₹2 crore from TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), a Lucknow-based outsourcing agency, in exchange for awarding the examination contract to the firm. Investigators further allege that Khiangte received a commission equivalent to 20 per cent of the total contract value. These disclosures reportedly emerged during the interrogation of Abhay Tiwari, TDPL's marketing manager, who was arrested earlier in the case.
A Blacklisted Agency at the Centre of the Scam
TDPL had been blacklisted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) on 20 May 2025 over prior irregularities. Despite this, the company allegedly continued to secure examination contracts, including from the JPSC. Investigators found that the then Controller of Examinations had submitted a written objection, specifically flagging TDPL's blacklisted status to senior Commission officials. The objection was reportedly overridden, and the contract was awarded on a nomination basis rather than through an open tender process — bypassing established procurement rules.
Khiangte's Defence and Pre-Arrest Questioning
Before his arrest, the CID subjected Khiangte to more than 30 hours of questioning across four separate interrogation sessions. During questioning, Khiangte reportedly defended himself by claiming the Commission was unaware of TDPL's blacklisted status at the time of contract award, attributing the decision to an administrative oversight. Investigators, however, continued their probe into his alleged role given the written objection on record.
Raids, Seizures, and the Wider Net
The CID conducted raids at Khiangte's official residence on Kanke Road, Ranchi, and at the JPSC office, seizing documents and electronic devices. Among the 19 accused now in custody are JPSC Deputy Controller of Examinations Shweta Kumari Gupta, TDPL Director Ramvir Singh, Abhay Tiwari, and Khiangte's personal computer operator. The agency has also sealed TDPL's offices in both Ranchi and Lucknow.
Investigation Continues
The CID has stated it is actively working to identify additional officials and individuals linked to the examination irregularities, including what investigators describe as a suspected parallel syndicate operating behind the scam. The arrest of the former JPSC Chairman signals that the probe is moving up the chain of command, with further developments expected in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Named the blacklisted agency, and was apparently overruled. That transforms a bribery allegation into a documented chain of institutional failure. The CID's reference to a 'parallel syndicate' suggests the probe is treating this as organised corruption, not individual misconduct. If that framing holds in court, the implications for Jharkhand's broader competitive examination ecosystem — already under scrutiny — will be severe.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is L. Khiangte and why was he arrested?
L. Khiangte is the former Chairman of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC). He was arrested on 10 August by the CID on allegations of accepting a ₹2 crore bribe and a 20% commission from TDPL in exchange for awarding the company the contract to conduct the 14th Civil Services Preliminary Examination.
What is TDPL and why is it significant in this case?
TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL) is a Lucknow-based outsourcing agency that was blacklisted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission on 20 May 2025 over prior irregularities. Despite the blacklisting, the company allegedly continued to secure examination contracts from the JPSC, making it central to the scam investigation.
How many people have been arrested in the JPSC exam scam so far?
The CID has arrested 19 people in total as of 10 August. Those in custody include former JPSC Chairman L. Khiangte, Deputy Controller of Examinations Shweta Kumari Gupta, TDPL Director Ramvir Singh, TDPL marketing manager Abhay Tiwari, and Khiangte's personal computer operator.
What evidence did the CID find against Khiangte?
The CID questioned Khiangte for over 30 hours across four sessions. Key evidence includes disclosures by TDPL's marketing manager Abhay Tiwari alleging the ₹2 crore bribe, a written objection by the then Controller of Examinations flagging TDPL's blacklisted status, and documents and electronic devices seized from Khiangte's residence and the JPSC office.
What happens next in the investigation?
The CID has stated it is continuing its probe to identify additional officials and individuals linked to the irregularities, including a suspected parallel syndicate behind the scam. TDPL's offices in Ranchi and Lucknow have been sealed, and further arrests are possible as the investigation moves up the institutional hierarchy.
