NEW DELHI: A day after one of the biggest scams in army recruitment was reported, Indian army has ordered a top-level inquiry into the alleged leak of the question papers. Pune-based Southern Command has been tasked to carry out the Court of Inquiry to examine the role of any serving army personnel, if any.
Army on Sunday revoked examination for Pune zone (Kamptee, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Ahmedabad, Goa and Kirkee after the racket was busted by Thane police.
In fact, the issue on Monday rocked the Army headquarters in national capital, as top brass of army was given detailed briefing about the paper leak. Top army sources maintained that stringent action will be taken against the guilty.
On Sunday, the Army had to cancel examinations, scheduled for several posts including those of soldier clerk, strongman and soldier tradesman at 52 centres across the country.
Thane police arrested 18 suspects, including a retired serviceman and a paramilitary personnel, during multiple raids in Maharashtra and Goa since Saturday midnight.
Local police officials claimed that 350 students who possessed question papers were also detained for questioning and a case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, IT Act and Prevention of Corruption Act against the accused.
Among those arrested, 9 were from Pune, 6 from Nagpur and three from Goa, he said.
Of the detained candidates, 79 are from Pune, 222 from Nagpur and 49 from Goa, the officer had said.
Following the tip-off about the leak, which police suspect happened either from the printing press or from the distribution centres, local police also shared information with Director of Army Recruitment Exams and also the Military Intelligence wing regarding the leak for further leads.
Police also claimed that the papers were leaked to aspirants through social media mobile messaging service WhatsApp and students paid Rs4-6 lakh to the middlemen.