Key aide of paper leak mastermind held: STF
DEHRADUN: The special task force of Uttarakhand police has arrested a close associate of the “mastermind” of the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) question paper leak, an STF official said, adding the mastermind belongs to an interstate gang involved in competitive exam paper leaks.
The arrested man was identified as Tanuj Sharma, a resident of Dehradun who is currently working as a physical education teacher at a government intermediate college in Netwar in Uttarkashi district.
“We first brought him in for questioning on the basis of important evidence that came to light during the investigation and subsequently arrested him late last evening,” said senior superintendent of police (STF) Ajay Singh.
He said teams have been dispatched to various districts of Uttar Pradesh to arrest the members of the inter-state gang and they will soon make an important disclosure in the case. According to STF, after Sharma’s important revelations, they have identified dozens of candidates who cleared the exam with the assistance of leaked papers. They belong to one particular area, it added.
“We have also got important inputs about the mastermind and other accomplices in the case. We are very close to nab him. However, we can’t divulge his name and other details as it can affect our investigation,” the STF officer said.
He also appealed to the candidates who cleared the exam through “unfair means” to come forward and give their statements to the investigation team or face arrest.
Another police official said the leaked question paper was made available to about 20 candidates at the accused’s home, while others were given the leaked question paper at an undisclosed location in Dehradun. Seventeen people, including two additional private secretaries deployed at the state secretariat, have been arrested in the case so far. An amount of ₹83 lakh has been recovered from different accused.
On Friday, additional private secretary in the justice department, Surya Pratap, a resident of Jaspur in Udham Singh Nagar district, was arrested in the paper leak case, said the police. On Wednesday, additional private secretary in the public works and forest department, Gaurav Chauhan, was arrested.