Rajasthan Police SOG Cracks Down on RPSC Teacher Exam Scam, Arrests Five
In a significant development exposing corruption in recruitment processes, the Rajasthan Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) announced on Tuesday the arrest of five individuals for their alleged involvement in a dummy candidate scam during the Rajasthan Public Service Commission's (RPSC) Senior Teacher recruitment examination-2022. The arrested include three MBBS students and two government teachers, with one additional suspect currently detained and being transported to Jaipur for intensive questioning.
Details of the Arrested Accused and Investigation
Additional Director General (SOG) Vishal Bansal provided specific identification of those apprehended. The arrested individuals are:
- Mahesh Kumar Bishnoi, a fourth-year MBBS student
- Mahipal Bishnoi, another fourth-year MBBS student studying in Kota
- Sahi Ram, a fourth-year MBBS student from Port Blair
- Hanumana Ram, a government teacher
- Niwas Kurada, also a government teacher
Bansal confirmed that "each of them carried a reward of Rs 10,000" for their capture. The detained suspect is identified as Prince, an MBBS student from Kolkata, who is being brought to Jaipur as the investigation continues.
Background of the RPSC Examination and Leakage
Deputy Inspector General (SOG) Paris Deshmukh elaborated on the examination's troubled history. The RPSC conducted the Senior Teacher examination in December 2022, covering General Knowledge, Educational Psychology, and Science subjects. However, after the General Knowledge and Educational Psychology paper was leaked, the entire examination had to be cancelled and subsequently reconducted in January 2023.
Deshmukh explained that following the re-examination, complaints began emerging that some candidates had secured selection through fraudulent means by employing dummy candidates to take the test on their behalf.
Sophisticated Investigation Techniques Uncover Fraud
An FIR was officially registered in 2023 against fourteen candidates and other individuals connected to the scam. During the meticulous investigation, the SOG developed specialized software designed to match candidates' photographs with the state's comprehensive one-time registration database. Through advanced digital matching and technical analysis, investigators successfully identified six dummy candidates who were carrying rewards for their apprehension.
Coordinated Raids and Financial Motivations
In a well-coordinated operation, SOG teams conducted simultaneous raids at six different locations across Andaman, Kolkata, Jalore, Kota, and Jaipur around 10 AM on Monday. Officials revealed that the accused allegedly received substantial payments ranging between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh to appear in place of the original candidates during the examination.
This case highlights serious vulnerabilities in public recruitment systems and demonstrates how technological tools can be employed both to commit and to uncover sophisticated examination fraud. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify all parties involved in this elaborate scheme to undermine the integrity of Rajasthan's teacher recruitment process.
