JPSC exam scam: 3 members resign amid CID probe in Jharkhand
Synopsis
Three JPSC members quit on the same weekend they were due to face CID questioning over alleged exam rigging — a rare simultaneous resignation that signals the Jharkhand recruitment scam probe is closing in fast. With four candidates and three middlemen already arrested, and more arrests reportedly imminent, the commission's credibility is in free fall.
Key Takeaways
Ajita Bhattacharya , Anima Hansda , and Jamal Ahmed resigned from the JPSC on 9 August , submitting letters to Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar .
All three had been summoned by the Jharkhand CID for individual questioning on consecutive days — Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday respectively.
Former JPSC Chairman and ex-Chief Secretary L.
Khiangte had already been questioned over four rounds before the resignations.
The CID has arrested four candidates and three alleged middlemen so far; more arrests are reportedly imminent.
Candidates across Jharkhand have been agitating for a fair probe into alleged rigging in recent JPSC competitive examinations.
Three members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) — Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda, and Jamal Ahmed — resigned from their posts on Sunday, 9 August, as a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into alleged recruitment examination irregularities deepened. All three submitted their resignation letters to Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, though the specific reasons behind the resignations have not been officially disclosed.
Why the Resignations Matter
The timing is significant: the three outgoing members had been summoned individually by the Jharkhand CID for questioning as part of its investigation into alleged rigging and irregularities in recent JPSC competitive examinations. According to official sources, Ajita Bhattacharya was scheduled for questioning on Monday, Anima Hansda on Tuesday, and Jamal Ahmed on Wednesday, with the possibility of further summons for each.
Background: A Commission Under Scrutiny
The JPSC has been mired in controversy over alleged irregularities and manipulation in recent competitive examinations. Candidates have been agitating across Jharkhand, demanding a fair and transparent investigation into the examination process. The resignations are widely being read in the context of this sustained pressure and the advancing CID inquiry.
Prior to Sunday's developments, the CID had already questioned former JPSC Chairman and former Chief Secretary L. Khiangte over four rounds, seeking information on various aspects of the examination process and decisions taken at the commission level.
Arrests and Further Action
The investigative agency has so far arrested four candidates allegedly involved in examination fraud and three alleged middlemen. According to sources, more arrests could follow in the coming days as investigators process clues gathered during questioning. The CID is reportedly preparing for further action based on facts that have emerged from the probe.
What Comes Next
With three commission members now having stepped down and the CID's questioning schedule firmly in place, the investigation is entering a critical phase. The fate of pending JPSC recruitments — and the aspirants who sat for those examinations — will hinge on the findings that emerge from this inquiry and any subsequent legal proceedings.
Point of View
In effect, a tax on meritocracy. The CID's arrest of middlemen suggests an organised network, not isolated misconduct. The real question is whether the probe will reach those who commissioned the fraud, or stop at the operatives.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did three JPSC members resign on 9 August?
Three JPSC members — Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda, and Jamal Ahmed — resigned on 9 August amid a CID investigation into alleged irregularities in JPSC recruitment examinations. They had been individually summoned for questioning by the CID, though the official reasons for their resignations have not been disclosed.
What is the CID probing in the JPSC case?
The Jharkhand CID is investigating alleged irregularities and rigging in recent JPSC competitive examinations. The probe has included questioning of former JPSC Chairman L. Khiangte over four rounds and has resulted in the arrest of four candidates and three alleged middlemen so far.
Who else has been questioned in the JPSC exam scam probe?
Former JPSC Chairman and former Chief Secretary L. Khiangte has been questioned by the CID over four rounds. The three resigned members — Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda, and Jamal Ahmed — were also scheduled for individual questioning following their resignations.
How many people have been arrested in the JPSC exam irregularities case?
As of 9 August, the CID has arrested four candidates allegedly involved in examination fraud and three alleged middlemen. According to sources, more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.
What happens to JPSC examinations now?
The JPSC has been under sustained pressure from agitating candidates demanding fair and transparent examination processes. With three members having resigned and a CID probe advancing, the future of pending recruitments will depend on the outcome of the investigation and any corrective measures ordered by the state government or judiciary.
