JPSC exam scam: CID summons 3 serving commission members for questioning
Synopsis
The JPSC exam scam probe has reached the commission's sitting members — a sharp escalation. With 19 arrests, a former chairman grilled for 30-plus hours, and now three serving members summoned, the CID appears to be systematically working its way up the chain of responsibility in what is shaping up as one of Jharkhand's most significant recruitment fraud cases.
Key Takeaways
CID issued notices on 7 August to three serving JPSC members — Dr Ajita Bhattacharya , Dr Anima Hansda , and Dr Jamal Ahmad — for questioning from Monday.
All three were appointed to the commission on 2 September 2021 following state cabinet approval.
Former JPSC Chairman L.
Khiangte was interrogated for over 30 hours across four rounds before resigning on 22 July .
The CID has arrested 19 people so far, including Abhay Tiwari of outsourcing firm TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd .
The probe covers alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination and seeks to identify at which stage the process was compromised.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Jharkhand has summoned all three serving members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) for questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. Notices were issued on Friday, 7 August to Dr Ajita Bhattacharya, Dr Anima Hansda, and Dr Jamal Ahmad, with questioning scheduled to begin from Monday.
Who Has Been Summoned
The three members were appointed to the commission on 2 September 2021, following state cabinet approval in August 2021. The CID is expected to question them about decisions taken during the examination process and the sequence of events surrounding the conduct of the recruitment test. Their summoning marks a significant escalation in the probe, as the agency moves from former officials to sitting members of the panel.
Former Chairman Questioned for Over 30 Hours
Prior to this development, the CID had already interrogated former JPSC Chairman and ex-Chief Secretary L. Khiangte across four rounds totalling more than 30 hours. Khiangte had resigned as JPSC Chairman on 22 July, shortly after the CID conducted a raid at the commission's office. Investigators subsequently searched his official residence as part of the ongoing probe.
19 Arrested, Key Accused Under Scrutiny
So far, the CID has arrested 19 people in connection with the alleged examination scam. Among those in custody is Abhay Tiwari, Marketing Manager of TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd — the outsourcing firm entrusted with conducting the examination. Investigators regard Tiwari as a key accused and are examining his alleged network and links with others connected to the case. Several other company officials and individuals associated with the examination process have also been detained.
Scope of Investigation Widens
The CID is probing not only the alleged irregularities in the examination itself but also attempting to determine at which stage the recruitment process was compromised and who bears responsibility for the misconduct. This comes amid growing public concern over the integrity of competitive examinations in Jharkhand, a pattern seen in similar recruitment scams across other states in recent years. With the summoning of the three serving JPSC members, the investigation has entered a new phase — one that could implicate the commission's current functioning, not just past decisions.
Point of View
Hansda, and Ahmad now raise the stakes for the commission's institutional credibility. India's recurring examination scam pattern — from NEET to state PSCs — points to a systemic failure in third-party examination outsourcing, and the role of TSR Data Processing here deserves as much scrutiny as the commissioners themselves. The real accountability question is whether the state government, which approved these appointments, will face any political reckoning.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the CID summoned the three JPSC members?
The CID has summoned Dr Ajita Bhattacharya , Dr Anima Hansda , and Dr Jamal Ahmad to question them about decisions made during the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination process and the sequence of events linked to the alleged irregularities. Their summoning marks an escalation of the probe to sitting commission members.
Who is L. Khiangte and what is his role in the JPSC scam?
L. Khiangte is the former JPSC Chairman and ex-Chief Secretary of Jharkhand. He was interrogated by the CID for over 30 hours across four rounds and resigned as JPSC Chairman on 22 July , shortly after a CID raid on the commission's office. His official residence was also searched as part of the investigation.
How many people have been arrested in the JPSC exam scam?
The CID has arrested 19 people so far in connection with the alleged examination scam. Among those arrested is Abhay Tiwari , Marketing Manager of TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd , the outsourcing firm that conducted the examination, who is considered a key accused.
What is TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd's role in the JPSC case?
TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd was the outsourcing firm entrusted with conducting the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination . Its Marketing Manager Abhay Tiwari has been arrested and is considered a key accused. Investigators are examining his alleged network and links with others connected to the case, and several other company officials have also been detained.
What exactly is being investigated in the JPSC exam scam?
The CID is probing alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination . Investigators are working to determine at which stage the recruitment process was compromised, who was involved, and the full extent of the alleged malpractice — covering both the examination conduct and decisions made by commission members.
