LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Sunday busted an organised racket that allegedly used micro-electronic devices to help candidates cheat in the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) Assistant Boring Technician Main Examination. A total of 13 persons, including candidates, facilitators and alleged solvers, were arrested from Varanasi and Prayagraj, while four electronic cheating devices and other incriminating material were seized.The Assistant Boring Technician Main Examination for the Minor Irrigation Department was conducted on July 12 at centres in Lucknow, Ghaziabad and Varanasi. Anticipating attempts to manipulate the examination, STF units had been deployed to gather intelligence and ensure a fair and malpractice-free recruitment process.According to the STF, intelligence inputs revealed that a Prayagraj-based gang was charging hefty sums from candidates and using concealed micro-electronic devices to transmit answers during competitive examinations. Acting on the information, STF teams simultaneously conducted operations in Prayagraj and Varanasi.During the raids, STF personnel arrested alleged gang members from a hideout in Prayagraj, while two candidates appearing for the examination were apprehended from separate examination centres in Varanasi. The arrests were made from Anglo Indian Muslim Inter College, Lallapura, Harishchandra Girls’ Inter College, Maidagin, and Ramgarh Kothari village in Prayagraj.The arrested accused have been identified as Kaptan Singh Patel, Om Prakash Patel, Rakesh Kumar Patel, Ravikant Verma alias Akhilesh, Dharmendra Kumar Singh, Lalta Prasad alias Guddu, Anuj Kumar Pal, Shiv Prakash Patel, Manoj Kumar, Vipin Kumar Verma (candidate), Dharmendra Kumar (candidate), Chander and Deepak Patel.The STF recovered 11 mobile phones, four electronic communication devices, two printers, two admit cards, two question papers and two OMR sheets from the accused.According to investigators, the racket was allegedly headed by Shivjeet Patel, who remains absconding, along with his associate Rajendra Yadav alias Dhirendra Yadav. Police said the gang contacted candidates through relatives and acquaintances, promising to ensure their selection in return for large sums of money.The investigation revealed that candidates were allegedly fitted with tiny electronic devices concealed inside their clothing and ears before entering the examination hall. Once the examination began, the question paper was allegedly procured from inside the centre and transmitted to the gang’s hideout in Prayagraj, where a team of “solvers” answered the questions. The answers were then relayed to candidates over concealed communication devices. STF officials said each solver was paid around Rs 20,000 for the assignment.During interrogation, one arrested candidate, Dharmendra Kumar, allegedly disclosed that he had paid Rs 5 lakh, including Rs 3.75 lakh through bank transfer and Rs 1.25 lakh in cash, to the gang. Another candidate, Vipin Kumar Verma, told investigators he had paid Rs 5 lakh in cash, besides Rs 25,000 for the electronic device used during the examination.The STF said associates of the gang also remained stationed outside examination centres to monitor police movement and coordinate with candidates.During the operation, alleged kingpin Shivjeet Patel and Rajendra Yadav managed to escape by taking advantage of the crowd. STF teams have launched a search to apprehend them.Cases have been registered at Sigra and Kotwali police stations in Varanasi under relevant provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act. Further investigation is underway to identify additional beneficiaries and determine whether the syndicate was involved in manipulating other competitive examinations.
