NEW DELHI: Defence ministry has ordered probe by the CBI into alleged leak of question papers in army recruitment after detected by Thane police on Sunday.
‘On recommendation of Army, the ministry has asked a CBI probe into the alleged leak of question paper and involved of insider if any,” said a senior MoD official.
Army on Sunday revoked examination for Pune zone (Kamptee, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Ahemdabad, Goa and Kirkee after the racket was busted by Thane police.
A day after incident, Army headquarters on Monday has already ordered a Court of Inquiry into the episode by maintaining 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.
Disclosing matter, 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 messing service WhatsApp and students were paying Rs. 4-6 lakh to the middlemen.