159 candidates among 164 held in Jharkhand excise constable exam paper leak probe

In a major crackdown on organised examination malpractice, police and officials detained a total of 164 individuals , including 159 candidates and five alleged gang members , in connection with suspected paper leak allegations during the Jharkhand Excise Constable Competitive Examination (JECCE) 2023 , officials said on Sunday.

The action followed a tip-off to the Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police, leading to coordinated raids at a site in Rargaon under Tamar police station limits , where a large number of candidates had assembled shortly before the examination.

Officials said the location was allegedly being used as part of a so-called “cheating factory” or solver network setup , where candidates were gathered and prepared for the exam using suspected leaked material.

During the raid, police recovered multiple sets of printed question papers and digital question-answer material , along with documents and electronic devices. However, the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) clarified that the seized papers did not fully match the actual examination questions, and the extent of any leak is still under investigation.

According to officials, the racket is believed to be operated by an organised inter-state “solver paper leak gang” , which allegedly brought candidates to the location through agents and coordinated the cheating process. Investigators said aspirants were reportedly charged between Rs 10–15 lakh per candidate for access to suspected leaked material and assistance.

Further revelations suggest that candidates had been instructed to surrender their mobile phones and admit cards before entering the premises to avoid detection. Some individuals were also found to have issued bank cheques to gang-linked persons , officials added.

Officials also said the operation indicated a structured system where candidates were allegedly made to memorise or rehearse answers in controlled environments prior to the exam, strengthening suspicions of a pre-planned cheating arrangement rather than an on-the-spot leak.

The main accused is believed to be part of a wider network with links to multiple competitive exam fraud cases across states including Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. He is reportedly a resident of Jehanabad in Bihar and is considered a key operative in the “solver paper leak network” , officials said.

Police and JSSC officials have confirmed that interrogation of all detained persons is ongoing , while further raids are being conducted to identify additional members of the racket. Authorities have also indicated that strict action, including possible debarment from future examinations, may follow depending on the outcome of the investigation.