LUCKNOW: A Telegram channel allegedly claiming to offer the question paper of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Police Constable recruitment examination for a sum of Rs 8,000 has come under the scanner of law enforcement authorities. An official First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Hussainganj police station in this regard.
Complaint Filed by Vigilance Wing
The complaint was formally lodged by Inspector Upendra Singh, who serves in the vigilance wing of the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB). The written examination is scheduled to be conducted on June 8, 9, and 10 across 1,183 examination centers situated throughout Uttar Pradesh. This recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 32,679 vacancies in the Civil Police and equivalent categories.
Massive Candidate Turnout
More than 28 lakh candidates have applied for these 32,679 positions. The examinations will be held at 1,183 centers spread across all 75 districts of the state, ensuring widespread coverage for aspirants from various regions.
Social Media Monitoring Cell Flags Suspicious Activity
Officials revealed that the board's social media monitoring cell, which actively tracks platforms such as WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram to ensure a fair and transparent examination process, flagged the suspicious activity on June 6. During routine surveillance, a Telegram channel named "Upp Exam Paper" was identified. This channel was found circulating messages that claimed to provide access to the actual exam paper through a private group.
Modus Operandi of the Scam
The posts on the channel suggested that there were limited slots available and demanded a payment of Rs 8,000 from interested aspirants. Candidates were instructed to contact an administrator identified by the handle @MAAFIAA_365. The message also included a QR code and bank details linked to an Airtel Payments Bank account held in the name of Krishna Kumar. This raised serious concerns about an organized attempt to defraud candidates by exploiting their desperation for success in the competitive examination.
Legal Action Taken
In his complaint, Inspector Upendra Singh alleged that the channel sought to mislead aspirants by falsely promising early access to the question paper, with the sole aim of extracting money through online platforms. Officials noted that such claims could create unnecessary panic among candidates, disrupt the smooth conduct of the examination process, and compromise its overall credibility.
Police have registered a case under multiple legal provisions, including Sections 318(4) (dishonesty), 221 (obstructing public servant from duty), and 292 (public nuisance) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Additionally, charges have been filed under Section 66D of the Information Technology Act and relevant provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Investigation Underway
An investigation is currently underway to identify the individuals behind the Telegram channel and to ascertain whether this is an isolated fraud or part of a larger racket operating in the region. Police have issued a stern warning that strict action will be taken against any attempts to undermine the integrity of public examinations.
Authorities urge candidates to remain vigilant and refrain from engaging with such fraudulent schemes. They advise aspirants to rely only on official communications from the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board for accurate information regarding the examination.
