Jaipur, Jan 20 (NationPress) The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan has initiated significant action in a grave incident involving extensive fraud and manipulation of results in three recruitment examinations organized by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSMSSB).

The examinations involved are the Supervisor (Women Empowerment) Direct Recruitment Examination-2018, Laboratory Assistant Recruitment Examination–2018, and Agriculture Supervisor Recruitment Examination–2018.

According to Additional Director General of Police, SOG, Rajasthan, Vishal Bansal, a total of 3,212 positions were advertised for these exams, attracting 9,40,038 applicants. The examinations took place in 2019, and the crucial task of scanning OMR sheets and processing data for results was outsourced to Rahav Limited, New Delhi.

During the probe, it was discovered that after scanning the OMR sheets, employees of the outsourced firm tampered with the actual examination data stored in computer systems.

Marks of selected candidates were illegally inflated to facilitate the selection of ineligible individuals. A re-scanning of the original OMR sheets by the Board revealed significant discrepancies between the actual scores and the final outcomes.

The investigation highlighted that Sanjay Mathur, the then Deputy Director (System Analyst-cum-Programmer) and Head of Technology at RSMSSB, played a pivotal role in this criminal scheme.

He exploited his official position and conspired with employees from the outsourced firm and internal staff to alter examination results, granting unwarranted advantages to favored candidates.

Furthermore, it was found that the scanned OMR sheets were digitally manipulated using image-editing software to indicate correct responses. In numerous instances, candidates with actual scores of 30-60 were falsely recorded as having achieved scores ranging from 185-259.

For example, accused Poonam Mathur, who scored around 63 marks, was deceitfully presented as having obtained 182 marks.

Moreover, it surfaced that when the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board formed an internal administrative committee to investigate the issue, two main accused—Sanjay Mathur and Praveen Gangwal—were appointed as committee members, suggesting a deliberate attempt to obstruct and influence the inquiry.

After a thorough investigation led by Investigating Officer Yashwant Singh under the guidance of DIG SOG Paritosh Deshmukh, the accused have been apprehended, including Shadan Khan, Vinod Kumar Gaur, Poonam Mathur, Sanjay Mathur, and Praveen Gangwal.

The probe has indicated that senior officials not only facilitated the selection of acquaintances but also accepted bribes amounting to lakhs for manipulating the results of other candidates through the outsourced firm's employees.

The implicated individuals face charges under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B, as well as the Rajasthan Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 1992, and the Information Technology Act, 2000. The investigation is ongoing to uncover further beneficiaries, financial trails, and the comprehensive scope of this examination scam, officials reported.