The Jharkhand Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has intensified its probe into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations, launching a statewide manhunt for seven absconding accused as the case expands to multiple districts. The development, reported on 14 August from Ranchi, comes after 22 persons have already been arrested in connection with the examination-rigging network.

The Seven Wanted Accused

The CID has identified the seven fugitives as Aditya Pandey, Pawan Kumar Singh, Ravishankar Kumar, Santosh Kumar Singh, Sanand Prakash, Lalu Kumar Yadav, and Saurabh Kumar Pandey. According to the investigating agency, teams are conducting raids across several districts to track down the suspects, gathering intelligence on their possible hideouts, associates, and contacts. The CID believes that interrogating these individuals could expose additional links in the alleged rigging network.

Key Arrests So Far

Among the most significant arrests in the case is that of former JPSC Chairman L. Khiangte. Investigators have also taken into custody former Deputy Examination Controller Shweta Kumari Gupta; Manoj Kumar Tiwari, alias Abhay Kumar Tiwari, director of examination-conducting agency TDPL; the agency's marketing manager Ramveer Singh; and technical programmers Mohammad Usman and Mohammad Ebad.

Further arrests include Hemant Verma, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Sonu Kumar, JPSC employee Umesh Kumar, and Arvind Kumar, who is said to be linked to main accused Abhay Tiwari. The CID has also arrested Budheshwar Bhagat, Ramesh Kumar, and Umakant Oraon.

Candidates Arrested for Alleged Unfair Means

The probe has reached candidates themselves. Selected candidates Roshan Kerketta, Manoj Kumar, and Rakshak Singh have been arrested on allegations of clearing the examinations through fraudulent practices. Investigators say the network allegedly included agents and certain candidates who are suspected of using unfair means to secure selection.

Probe Reaches Delhi and Mumbai

The investigation has widened beyond Jharkhand's borders. The CID recently arrested Mithilesh Singh, alias R.K. Singh, from Delhi; he is reportedly associated with ICN India, a company linked to examination operations. In a separate operation, Arun Sharma, director of Binsys Technologies, was arrested from Mumbai, indicating the alleged network extended to private firms across multiple cities.

Evidence and What Comes Next

During the course of the investigation, the CID has recovered several documents and pieces of evidence, including carbon copies of OMR sheets. Investigators are currently conducting scrutiny and cross-verification of these copies against original records to determine whether answers were altered, whether there was unauthorised intervention, or whether other irregularities occurred during the examination process. The arrest and interrogation of the remaining seven absconding accused is expected to be critical to mapping the full extent of the alleged scam.