PSI recruitment fraud: Malpractices found at strong room storing OMR answer sheets?

Bengaluru: The malpractices PSI recruitment exam seems to be much larger than is currently being reported. Sources claimed that the irregularities have been found in the strong room where the OMR answer sheets were stored.

There are allegations that the DySP level officers who were entrusted with the security themselves facilitated the exchange of OMR sheets by opening the strong room without anyone’s notice. However, sources claimed, that the CID team probing the matter is hesitant to investigate these officers.

After the completion of the exam on October 3 last year, the answer sheets were stored in a strong room at the CID office in Bengaluru. Three officers of DySP rank, including DySP Shanthakumar, were entrusted the responsibility of its security, sources said.

Some candidates had answered only about 20 to 30 questions. Strong rooms were opened for some middlemen, candidates, and coaching class instructors to facilitate swapping of OMR sheets, filling blank answer sheets by the officials in-charge of security, sources claimed.

Moreover, cheating was also prevalent in other centers Kalubaragi, Davangere, Hassan, and Belagavi. Some candidates had paid close to Rs 60-70 lakhs for getting selected, sources said.

An IPS officer was also involved in the whole racket, sources claimed.