Bengaluru Police Launch Manhunt for Seven IWST Staff in Exam Impersonation Case
Bengaluru city police have initiated a major manhunt for seven staff members of the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST) in Malleswaram. The accused face serious allegations of securing their jobs through fraudulent means. They reportedly sent impersonators to write recruitment examinations on their behalf.
Details of the Accused and Their Disappearance
The group includes six multi-tasking staffers (MTS) and one forest guard. Police identified them as Dinesh, Sudhir, Prince, Sonu, Praveen, and Rajkumar, all serving as MTS. The forest guard is Sunil Kumar Yadav. Authorities appointed these individuals between 2018 and 2022.
Five of the accused hail from Haryana, while two come from Rajasthan. All seven have now vanished from sight. They have gone completely incommunicado and switched off their mobile phones, making the police search more challenging.
How the Fraud Unfolded Through Handwriting Analysis
The case came to light after a detailed investigation into handwriting discrepancies. Shakti Singh, the director of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education–IWST, filed an official complaint with the Sadashivnagar police station.
Investigators compared handwriting samples from undertakings submitted during the joining process with the original examination answer scripts. The complaint clearly stated a significant difference between the two sets of writing. This mismatch raised immediate red flags about the authenticity of the exam performances.
CCTV Footage and Forensic Evidence Confirm Impersonation
Police also scrutinized CCTV footage from the various examination centers. While footage from the center where Dinesh supposedly took the exam was unavailable, recordings from other centers provided crucial evidence.
The CCTV visuals showed different individuals appearing and writing the exams under the names of the accused. This visual proof strongly supported the handwriting findings.
To solidify the case, authorities sent both the answer scripts and the handwriting samples to a forensic science laboratory. The lab analysis confirmed that the accused did not write the exams themselves. This forensic report added a scientific layer to the investigation.
Legal Actions and Charges Filed
Police have registered the case under specific legal provisions. They invoked the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act to address the exam fraud aspect. Additionally, they applied sections 336 and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Section 336 deals with forgery, while section 340 covers offences related to forged documents and electronic records. These charges reflect the serious nature of the impersonation scam.
The investigation continues as police intensify efforts to locate and apprehend the seven accused staff members. This case highlights ongoing issues with recruitment integrity in public institutions.
