Prime accused Abhay Kumar Tiwari has confessed before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the Jharkhand recruitment scam, revealing that nearly all general category seats in the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) examination held in 2026 were systematically rigged — with candidates from other states allegedly securing appointments in exchange for bribes ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh per seat. The disclosure has significantly widened the scope of the CID's ongoing probe into recruitment irregularities in the state.

How the Racket Operated

According to Tiwari's statement, the examination was conducted by outsourcing agency TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), where Tiwari himself served as a marketing manager. The agency allegedly fixed a rate of at least ₹10 lakh per candidate to manipulate results in favour of out-of-state applicants. Tiwari's account indicates that the manipulation was not limited to the written examination — it extended to the interview stage as well, with specific interview boards allegedly being set up to favour pre-selected candidates.

Former JPSC Officials Named

Tiwari has reportedly named former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Chairman L. Khiangte and then-JPSC member Ajita Bhattacharya as being involved in the alleged fixing of interview boards. In his statement, Tiwari claimed that a candidate identified as 'Rajak' appeared before an interview board chaired by the then-Chairman L. Khiangte, and that the arrangement was brokered through a person named Ramveer Singh for ₹15 lakh.

In a separate instance, Tiwari alleged that candidate Kajal Bharti appeared before a board headed by Ajita Bhattacharya, with ₹10 lakh reportedly paid to her personal assistant. The names of candidates Pramod Kumar Pathak and Kumari Dolly Jaiswal were also mentioned in his statement. An ITI project manager identified as 'Krishna' allegedly acted as a middleman in both cases.

Arrests and Ongoing Investigation

Former JPSC Chairman L. Khiangte has already been arrested in connection with the case and is currently in judicial custody. Former JPSC member Ajita Bhattacharya has been questioned by the CID. Investigators are now cross-verifying Tiwari's claims against independent evidence, including financial transaction records, call detail records (CDRs), digital evidence, bank account movements, and original examination and interview documentation.

What the CID Is Probing

The agency is working to establish how many candidates paid bribes, through which intermediaries the money changed hands, and at precisely which stage of the selection process — written examination or interview — the manipulation occurred. The CID aims to build a case on legally admissible evidence before taking further action.

Implications for the Scam's Scale

This comes amid growing concern over systemic corruption in state recruitment processes across India. If Tiwari's allegations are independently corroborated, investigators say the Jharkhand recruitment scam could implicate a significantly larger network of officials and brokers. The case has already drawn attention to the role of private outsourcing agencies in conducting public examinations — a model increasingly scrutinised for accountability gaps.