CBI initiates preliminary enquiry into paper leak

The issue of army recruitment examination paper leak in February has come under the scanner of the CBI which has initiated a preliminary enquiry into it.

Sources said the CBI had received a complaint from the Defence Ministry alleging that the examination paper of Army Recruitment Board for lower level posts was leaked a day before the test was scheduled on February 26.

The agency has started a preliminary enquiry into the alleged leakage of the question paper of the Common Entrance Examination to be held in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, they said.

The army had to cancel the examination following the crime branch of Thane police busting the recruitment racket.

Police had arrested 18 people from Maharashtra and Goa for their alleged involvement in the leak.

Thane police had said 350 students were also detained for questioning and later let off.

The test was cancelled at examination centres in Kamptee, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Ahmedabad, Goa and Kirkee.

The examination was to be held for a number of posts including those of soldier clerk, strongman and soldier tradesman at 52 centres across the country.

The police had received information that an institute which conducts coaching classes for army job aspirants had given the paper to some aspirants in advance for a price.

The middlemen had also arranged for fake domicile and residence proof for students hailing from other places so as to enable them appear for the examination in that zone.

The beneficiary was to pay around Rs four to five lakh to the middlemen, the officials had said.