PAPER LEAK: COPS SEIZE 21 CELL PHONES, CERTIFICATES

THANE The Thane police have recorded statements of the 350 candidates who were to appear in the Army recruitment board exam on Sunday in Pune.

A total of 21 people have been arrested for leaking the question paper in the Army recruitment board exam.

Parag Manere, deputy commissioner of police Thane, said, the police have seized 21 mobile phones from the accused and 100 domicile certificates from the candidates.

“We have seized Rs47,500 from the accused. They were supposed to use the money to rent a hall and for other expenses,” he said.

The police will check the call details to trace the wanted accused.

“We suspect that three accused are hiding in Maharashtra. A team has been formed to look for them,” said Manere.

He added that the accused had tried cheating candidates a few years ago but had failed twice.

The Thane police are in continuous touch with the Army headquarters in New Delhi.

“We are giving the Army officers all details. We have also shared with them the details of the three wanted accused who are suspected to be in Nagaland and Karnataka,” said a police officer from the Thane crime branch.

Documents such as pass certificates of school and college and domicile certificates of candidates have been seized.

“We are investigating to trace the accused who used to make fake documents. We are keeping tabs on the accused’s relatives and family members,” said the officer.

“We sleep at the railway station and come to Thane crime branch office in the morning. We are telling the police whatever we know,” said a candidate, Dilip Yadav, 18, who came to Pune from Haryana to appear for the examination.