In a significant crackdown on examination malpractice, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police has arrested two individuals for allegedly using dummy candidates to fraudulently secure selection as senior teachers. The arrests are linked to the controversial Senior Teacher Recruitment Examination–2022 conducted by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC).
The Modus Operandi: Dummy Candidates Write the Exam
According to senior police officials, the two arrested accused share the same name – Dinesh Kumar. Both are 29 years old and hail from Jalore district. The investigation has revealed a brazen fraud: neither of the two men appeared for the examinations themselves. Instead, they allegedly hired impersonators to write the papers on their behalf.
This scheme enabled them to fraudulently qualify for the coveted senior teacher (science) posts. The science subject paper was conducted on December 24, 2022. However, the general knowledge and educational psychology paper, scheduled for the same day, was cancelled following a paper leak. It was later reconducted on January 29, 2023.
A Two-Year Manhunt Ends with Arrests
After a case was registered, the two accused remained absconding for nearly two years, constantly changing locations to evade capture. "They were constantly shifting bases out of fear of being caught," stated an official involved in the operation.
The law finally caught up with them after a sustained surveillance operation by a special SOG team. Prior to their arrest, the additional district and sessions judge of Jaipur Metropolitan II had issued permanent arrest warrants against them. The police had also announced a reward of Rs 5,000 each for information leading to their capture.
Probing a Larger Organized Racket
The police suspect that this is not an isolated incident but points to the involvement of an organized cheating racket. This network is believed to have arranged the dummy candidates and facilitated the entire examination fraud.
Additional Director General of Police (SOG) Vishal Bansal and DIG (SOG) Paris Deshmukh confirmed that the investigation is now expanding. Authorities are actively working to identify the impersonators who physically sat in the exam halls. Furthermore, they are tracing financial transactions to unravel the money trail and expose the full extent of the racket.
The arrests have sent a strong message about the state's resolve to cleanse the recruitment process. A thorough investigation is underway to ensure all involved face legal consequences.
