DEHRADUN: In its ongoing investigation into the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) question paper leak, the STF has found out about the alleged involvement of a member of the Uttarkashi zila panchayat in leaking the question paper.
According to STF sources, the suspect is associated with a leading political party and was involved in buying the question paper from the accused staffer of the Lucknow-based printing press where it was printed. One of the STF officers told TOI, “His name came under the radar after the interrogation of former UKSSSC employee Manoj Joshi, who is one of the main accused. It has come to light that the zila panchayat member provided money to buy the question paper from the accused in the Lucknow printing press, who has already been arrested.” The STF officer added that the suspect has not been booked in the case so far.
“The agency is collecting evidence against him before lodging a case against the suspect. We have also found evidence of his involvement in the forest guard recruitment exam cheating case of 2020. At least 45 examinees were booked for cheating in the exam hall using a bluetooth device. Proper legal action would be taken against him once we connect the dots and gather all relevant evidence,” said the officer.
Meanwhile, Ajay Singh, senior superintendent of police, STF said that the investigation is being carried out from all angles “to find out about all those involved in the UKSSSC question paper leaking case”. The STF has, so far, arrested 13 people, including four government employees, for allegedly selling the leaked question paper to examinees of graduate-level recruitment exam held in December last year. The question paper was sold at Rs 15 lakh each. The question paper was sold to over 20 students across the state.
