Mithilesh Singh, director of blacklisted examination management agencies Webel and ICN, has emerged as the alleged mastermind behind large-scale irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). A special investigation team of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is actively examining his financial and digital networks, while multiple teams have been deployed across several cities to locate him. Singh remains absconding.

How the Racket Operated

Interrogations of arrested accused have revealed that Singh allegedly charged candidates between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 lakh each to guarantee success in the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination and other major recruitment tests. The scale of the operation came into sharper focus following the questioning of key accused Abhay Tiwari, who admitted to paying ₹12 lakh each to Singh for securing the selection of himself, his brother Akshay Tiwari, and his wife Sushma Kumari — a total outlay of ₹36 lakh.

Role of Blacklisted Agencies

Investigators describe an extensive nexus involving the manipulation of examination processes and digital systems. Blacklisted agencies Webel and ICN had allegedly been entrusted with sensitive responsibilities including OMR sheet processing and question paper printing. During questioning, ICN employees Sumansh Prakash and Rahul Kumar, arrested in Delhi, told investigators that they merely executed instructions from lower-level supervisors, while all major dealings with JSSC officials were handled directly by Singh. The accused allegedly facilitated unauthorised modifications in the backend software of the examination portal, enabling manipulation of candidates' scores.

Benami Assets Worth Over ₹300 Crore

Investigating agencies have received information suggesting that proceeds from question paper leaks and exam manipulation were channelled into a vast portfolio of benami assets reportedly worth over ₹300 crore across the country. Preliminary CID findings point to benami land holdings, luxury houses, apartments, hotels, and commercial properties linked to Singh in Delhi, Patna, Ranchi, Mumbai, Pune, Rajasthan, and Haryana.

A Repeat Offender Across State Lines

Originally from Bihar's Bhojpur district, Singh is alleged to be a seasoned operator in inter-state examination fraud. Investigators believe he was previously involved in recruitment irregularities and paper leak cases in Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Telangana, and has reportedly been jailed on around four occasions in connection with similar offences. According to the probe, Singh replicated the same organised syndicate model in Jharkhand that had allegedly been deployed in other states — underscoring a pattern of systematic, cross-border examination fraud that authorities are now working to dismantle.