Jharkhand Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi has formally written to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination and the 11th to 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Combined Civil Services Examinations. The letter, dated 19 August, was made public on 20 August and comes after the Jharkhand government cancelled 44 recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC following complaints of irregularities.

Marandi Questions the CID Probe

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader described the ongoing Crime Investigation Department (CID) investigation into the JSSC-CGL matter as “flawed and suspicious,” alleging that the absence of decisive action had deepened mistrust among candidates. He charged that the CID failed to properly distinguish between fake and genuine candidates, identify the broader conspiracy allegedly surrounding the examination, and initiate action against those responsible.

Marandi also cited allegations of extortion from candidates during the CID investigation itself, calling for an independent inquiry into the alleged role of CID officials. “If the CID had investigated the CGL exam with seriousness and impartiality, clearly distinguishing between fake and genuine candidates, identifying the culprits, and attempting to uncover the entire conspiracy, the trust of lakhs of candidates in the state’s examination system and investigative agencies would not have broken today,” he said.

JPSC Irregularities: Interview Board Fixing Alleged

Turning to the 11th to 13th JPSC Combined Civil Services Examinations, Marandi cited allegations that attempts were made to influence or “fix” interview boards. He referred to the arrest of Brajram, a personal assistant to former JPSC member Dr Ajita Bhattacharya, in connection with alleged extortion from candidates during the interview process.

Marandi further alleged that codes were decoded to identify and call specific candidates before particular interview boards. He demanded that statements of every officer and member involved in the interview boards be recorded and that a “scientific and independent investigation” cover the constitution of interview boards, allocation of candidates, the coding-decoding process, marks obtained, digital records, call details, financial transactions, and the roles of officials and middlemen.

Key Demands Placed Before CM Soren

In his letter, Marandi laid out a detailed set of demands. He called for the JSSC-CGL scam investigation to be transferred to the CBI “without delay,” and for CBI scrutiny of all irregularities in the 11th to 13th JPSC Civil Services Examinations. He also demanded that the investigation of all 22 examinations cancelled by the government, as well as 17 examinations, results, and appointments currently under suspicion, be handed over to the CBI or another independent central agency in place of the CID.

Additionally, he demanded the immediate removal of officials under suspicion from ongoing investigations, accountability for those who allegedly conducted a flawed probe or suppressed evidence, and the immediate securing of all digital records and evidence related to interview board processes.

Broader Crisis in Jharkhand’s Recruitment System

Marandi framed the controversy in stark terms, arguing it was “not merely about a few examinations” but involved the futures of “lakhs of young people” in Jharkhand, the credibility of statutory recruitment bodies, and the overall integrity of the state’s recruitment system. He pointedly questioned the government’s delayed response: “Why did the government wait for a massive student movement and rising public outrage? If the government ultimately had to cancel the exams, why was action not taken on the students’ complaints earlier? My direct question is — who is your government actually trying to shield?”

This development follows the Jharkhand government’s release of a list of 44 recruitment examinations by the JPSC and JSSC that have been cancelled in the wake of irregularity complaints and CID/SIT investigations. With the Opposition now formally escalating demands for central agency intervention, pressure on the Hemant Soren-led government is set to intensify in the days ahead.