Dausa District Collector Terminates Patwari Linked to Paper Leak Syndicate
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Synopsis
On March 22, the Dausa District Collector dismissed Harshvardhan Meena, a major player in the paper leak case, from his position as Patwari. He was apprehended at the Nepal border last year and remains in custody as investigations into various associated cases continue.
Key Takeaways
- Harshvardhan Meena dismissed from Patwari post.
- Involved in the 2020 Junior Engineer recruitment scam.
- Rajasthan's zero-tolerance policy on paper leaks emphasized.
- 86 state employees dismissed related to recruitment fraud.
- Meena's organized cheating racket dismantled.
Jaipur, March 22 (NationPress) The Dausa District Collector has terminated Harshvardhan Meena, a principal suspect in the paper leak scandal, from his role as Patwari, as confirmed by ADG Special Operations Group (SOG), VK Singh, on Saturday. He noted that the SOG's Special Investigation Team (SIT) apprehended him at the Nepal border in February of the previous year.
Since his arrest, he has remained in custody, with the SOG having taken him into remand multiple times for questioning, even as over six FIRs have been lodged against him.
VK Singh underscored the Rajasthan government's 'zero-tolerance' stance on paper leaks.
He indicated that ongoing actions by the police and administration aim to undermine the morale of offenders involved in such incidents. Furthermore, he stated that the dismissal of government employees implicated in paper leaks conveys a powerful message and acts as a deterrent.
As part of this extensive crackdown, Dausa's mastermind in the Patwari recruitment scandal, Harshvardhan Meena, has been dismissed by Dausa DS Devendra Kumar.
Meena's arrest relates to the Junior Engineer (JEN) recruitment exam of 2020, during which he allegedly employed a dummy candidate to fraudulently pass the exam.
His spouse, Sarita Meena, had previously been removed from service by then Bhilwara Collector Namit Mehta for a comparable offense.
She reportedly utilized a proxy candidate to pass the SI recruitment exam of 2021.
According to ADG VK Singh, a total of 86 state employees have been dismissed or removed, including 45 involved in the SI recruitment scandal.
Meanwhile, departmental investigations are ongoing against 189 other state employees believed to be involved in similar activities.
This rigorous action underscores the government's determination to eradicate corruption in recruitment procedures, he added.
Meena, a criminal with a bounty of Rs 50,000 on his head, was part of the gang that leaked the paper in the Rajasthan JEN exam and was nabbed at the Nepal border. The Rajasthan SOG police has also arrested three other accomplices alongside him.
He was orchestrating an organized cheating racket and had stolen and leaked the question paper for the JEN 2020. His wife, who also served as a Patwari, was arrested.
