J&K sub-inspector recruitment scam: CBI conducts searches at 33 locations across country

The CBI Tuesday launched search operations at 33 locations across the country in connection with its probe into the Jammu and Kashmir sub-inspector recruitment exam scam.

Sources said the searches are being carried out in Jammu, Srinagar; Karnal, Mahendergarh, and Rewari in Haryana; Gandhinagar in Gujarat; Delhi; Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Bengaluru in Karnataka.
The premises being searched include those belonging to the former chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) Khalid Jehangir and the board’s Controller of Examination Ashok Kumar, apart from officials of J&K police, including a DSP, and a CRPF official.

The CBI had early last month booked three officials of the JKSSB, a BSF officer, a former CRPF officer, and a J&K policeman among others for alleged irregularities in the conduct of sub-inspector recruitment exams in the Union territory. The irregularities led to an abnormally high number of candidates being selected from the Jammu, Rajouri and Samba districts.
The agency had then conducted searches at 30 locations spread across Jammu, Srinagar, and Bengaluru at the premises of the accused. In all, the agency has booked 33 people and entities, which include a coaching centre in Akhnoor and a Bengaluru-based company.

The examination was held on March 27 this year and the results were declared on June 4. However, on July 8 the J&K administration cancelled the exams with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announcing on Twitter he had recommended a CBI probe into the exams and that culprits would be brought to book soon. The J&K administration had also constituted an inquiry committee to look into the matter.