A firefighter with the Chandigarh Fire Department allegedly operated an interstate examination cheating network that helped candidates use concealed nano earbuds, Bluetooth devices and modified mobile phones to cheat in government recruitment exams, Delhi Police told PTI.
Police said seven people have been arrested in connection with the case and further investigation is underway.
According to Delhi Police, the network allegedly charged aspirants up to Rs 12 lakh and provided specially designed electronic devices that enabled candidates to receive answers from outside examination centres.
The racket was uncovered after the Central Sanskrit University filed a complaint on July 26 regarding the alleged use of unfair means during the Lower Division Clerk (LDC) recruitment examination conducted at a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Delhi's Janakpuri.
Candidates allegedly caught with electronic cheating devices
During frisking at the examination centre, officials allegedly recovered a customised mobile phone from a woman candidate. Another candidate, identified as Hemant, was allegedly found carrying a Bluetooth device with a SIM card and concealed nano earbuds.
Following the complaint, Delhi Police registered an FIR and arrested both candidates.
During questioning, Hemant allegedly told investigators that his brother Rinku had arranged the Bluetooth device and SIM card through a contact named Virender for Rs 12 lakh. The setup was allegedly meant to help him receive answers from outside the examination hall.
Police subsequently arrested Rinku and Virender based on the information provided during the investigation.
Investigation leads police to alleged network operators
The woman candidate allegedly told police that her friend Sanni had provided her with the customised mobile phone, Bluetooth device, SIM card and nano earbuds as part of a Rs 10 lakh deal.
The investigation then led police to Sanni, who allegedly identified Deepak as another member of the network. Police said Deepak, who has studied up to Class 12, allegedly arranged electronic devices and coordinated the transmission of answers during examinations.
Using technical surveillance, social media analysis and intelligence inputs, police traced Deepak, who allegedly revealed that he was working under the direction of Sonu Kumar alias Sonu Maan, described by police as the suspected kingpin.
Chandigarh fire department employee arrested in Haryana
Police said Sonu was tracked to Charkhi Dadri in Haryana, where he was allegedly caught while facilitating cheating in another government recruitment examination.
According to police, Sonu works as a fireman with the Chandigarh Fire Department.
During his arrest, police allegedly recovered a tablet linked to a foreign account, customised mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, nano earbuds, SIM cards, other electronic gadgets and documents.
Police examine wider network and financial trail
Police suspect the syndicate used modified electronic devices to transmit question papers from inside examination centres and receive answers through concealed Bluetooth communication systems.
Investigators also said Sanni, who works as a lab attendant at Delhi University's Lady Irwin College, allegedly acted as an intermediary by identifying candidates and connecting them with the suspected mastermind in exchange for commission.
Police are now examining the financial transactions linked to the syndicate and investigating whether the network was involved in similar recruitment examination cheating cases across multiple states.
(With inputs from PTI)
