Fingerprint cloning new way to beat Madhya Pradesh exams

In Madhya Pradesh, impersonators have come up with a trick to dodge biometric verification by cloning thumb impressions with a glue and a transparent tape.

An impersonator was caught on Thursday in Thatipur area of Gwalior. He used a cloned thumb impression with a glue and a transparent tape while appearing in the online constable recruitment test being organised by Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB also known as Vyapam) from August 19 to September 18.

The impersonator Bheem Singh Meena, a resident of Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, managed to dupe the biometric machine at least twice.

He got caught when officials, suspecting foul play, asked for his thumb impression after he had washed his hands at the end of the exam.

He was trying to impersonate an aspirant from Morena, Kailashi Rawat.

During investigation, police found that an inter-state gang of solvers, mediators, engineers and finger print experts was involved in these cases of impersonation. They found that a large number of impersonators had been taking the exam with cloned thumb impressions.

While talking to HT, town inspector Thatipur and investigating officer Yashwant Goyal said, “In the investigation, we found that impersonation activities are being held rampantly in the state with the help of this new technique of cloning of thumb impression. Meena informed that kingpin of the gang, Abhishek Rawat, put glue on his thumb and pasted a transparent tape over it. It is hard for machine and invigilators to detect it superficially.”