SOG files chargesheet against 18 in forest guard exam paper leak case

Jaipur: The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police Monday filed a chargesheet against 18 individuals in connection with the Forest Guard Recruitment Exam 2020 paper leak. The chargesheet was submitted before the additional district and sessions court in Banswara.

The exam, conducted by Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB) on Nov 13, 2022, in two shifts, was marred by widespread allegations of cheating. The case was originally registered on June 30, 2024, at Rajtalab police station in Banswara, which was later handed over to SOG, state's nodal agency for probing organised cheating and unfair means in public examinations.

Among those named in the chargesheet are several serving govt employees, including forest guards, police constables, a third-grade teacher, and a railway station master. The accused allegdely either paid for the leaked papers or played a role in distributing or facilitating the leak.

The accused includes four forest guards: Suryakanta, Samuel Ninama from Banswara, Seema Kumari, and Timo from Barmer. Police constables include Kamlesh Kumar posted in Udaipur, Bhiyaram, Dewaram, and Likhmaram. Others include third-grade teacher Heera Ram Saran alias Harish; Kanwara Ram Choudhary (station master, Palanpur, Gujarat); Chhagan Pargi, Firoz Ninama, Pratap Bamnia all from Banswara; Ramesh Kumar Jani, Sharda from Udaipur; Reshmi, Sanwala Ram Jat, and Kanwar Ram all from Barmer.

Officials said the accused used leaked papers and fake identities to either clear the exam themselves or help others do so. Many of the suspects were already serving in sensitive positions in the forest and police departments when they were arrested.

Investigations revealed that organised gangs leaked both the morning and afternoon shift papers to select candidates by showing the questions on mobile phones just before the exam. Each candidate paid nearly Rs 8 lakh to access the leaked paper, officials said. Some agents who acted as intermediaries between candidates and the paper-leak syndicate were also found to be involved. Several of them also arranged for dummy candidates in other exams, indicating a larger organised network.

The Forest Guard Recruitment Exam was held to fill over 2,300 vacancies and saw more than 16 lakh applications.