CBI Busts Major Banking Recruitment Scam: 14 MP Gramin Bank Officials Accused of Using Impersonators

CBI Uncovers Major Recruitment Fraud in MP Gramin Bank, 14 Officials Implicated

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Branch in Bhopal, has taken decisive action by registering a formal case against 14 officials of MP Gramin Bank, Indore. The officials stand accused of a sophisticated scheme to secure their banking positions through fraudulent means, specifically by employing impersonators to appear in crucial recruitment examinations conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).

IBPS Alert Triggers Investigation and Biometric Re-verification

According to official CBI statements, the investigation was initiated following a formal communication from IBPS. The institute raised serious concerns and flagged suspected discrepancies within the recruitment process for MP Gramin Bank. This alert prompted the bank to undertake a meticulous biometric re-verification process targeting 14 of its recently appointed officials.

The results of this verification were alarming. Investigators discovered significant mismatches between the biometric data—including iris scans, fingerprints, and photographs—of the individuals who originally sat for the IBPS recruitment tests and the biometric profiles of the officials who subsequently assumed their roles at the bank. This clear discrepancy pointed to a calculated fraud.

"Solvers" Allegedly Used to Cheat the System

The CBI's preliminary findings concluded that professional impersonators, often referred to in such scams as "solvers," were allegedly hired to take the IBPS examinations on behalf of the selected candidates. This method allowed unqualified individuals to fraudulently obtain coveted appointments within the public sector banking institution.

In a significant development, the CBI executed coordinated search operations on January 9, 2026, across 14 locations in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. During these raids, officials seized a trove of potentially damning evidence. Among the recovered items were multiple Aadhaar updation receipts.

The agency alleges that these receipts indicate a pattern of repeated updates to biometric details and photographs. This activity is suspected to be a deliberate attempt to manipulate official identity records, thereby helping the accused avoid detection during standard verification procedures.

TCS-Assisted Verification Confirms Widespread Fraud

To solidify the evidence, the CBI, with technical assistance from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)—the technology partner for IBPS—conducted a fresh round of biometric re-verification of the accused officials. The subsequent comparison report received from IBPS provided conclusive evidence, confirming biometric mismatches for 11 of the 14 accused officials.

"The findings established that these 11 officials did not appear in various stages of the IBPS recruitment examination and that impersonators had taken the tests on their behalf," the CBI alleged in its official statement, underscoring the scale of the deception.

Building on this evidence, the CBI moved to make arrests. On February 23, 2026, the agency apprehended the 11 accused bank officials. They were presented before the Special Judge for CBI cases in Indore the following day, February 24. The court, recognizing the need for a thorough probe, granted the CBI custody of the accused to facilitate further interrogation and evidence gathering.

Ongoing Investigation and Future Implications

The investigation remains active and ongoing. CBI officials have indicated that further legal action is likely as the probe continues. The agency is focusing on evidence collected during the custodial questioning of the arrested individuals and a detailed forensic analysis of the seized digital and biometric records.

This case highlights critical vulnerabilities in public sector recruitment processes and raises serious questions about the integrity of hiring mechanisms in government-affiliated banks. The use of advanced biometric technology to uncover the fraud also points to the evolving nature of forensic investigations in combating white-collar crime.