Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 21 (HBTV): Uttarakhand Police has busted a racket that was misleading candidates with false promises of helping them clear the Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) exam, according to an official release.
‘Cheating mafia kingpin Hakam Singh and his associate have been arrested,’ the release said. The accused had allegedly been demanding between INR 12 lakh and INR 15 lakh from candidates by assuring them of passing the exam. Their plan was to keep the money if the candidates cleared the exam on their own and, in case of failure, trap them further by claiming the amount would be adjusted against future exams.
The investigation confirmed that there was no breach of the fairness or confidentiality of the examination process.
The UKSSSC is conducting a written competitive examination in Dehradun for graduate-level posts across various departments on September 21. Anticipating attempts by anti-social elements to exploit candidates, the police and the Special Task Force (STF) had been closely monitoring suspicious individuals.
Two days ago, the police received confidential information about a gang targeting candidates and demanding large sums of money. A surveillance operation revealed that one candidate, Pankaj Gaur, was in contact with Hakam Singh. Further inquiry showed that the duo was contacting aspirants and demanding INR 12–15 lakh in return for ensuring success in the exam.
Following this, a joint police team detained two individuals from the Patel Nagar area namely Hakam Singh, 42, son of Kedar Singh, resident of Village Niwadi, Post Battery, Police Station Mori, District Uttarkashi; and Pankaj Gaur, 32, son of Keshwanand Gaur, resident of Village Kandari, Block Naugaon, Revenue Police Station Kandari Barkot, District Uttarkashi.
A case has been registered against them at Kotwali Patel Nagar under the Uttarakhand Competitive Examination (Prevention and Remedies for Unfair Means in Recruitment) Ordinance, 2023, based on a complaint filed by Inspector Mukesh Tyagi, in charge of SOG.
During interrogation, the accused admitted they were demanding money from candidates with false promises of ensuring their selection. Their scheme was to keep the money if candidates succeeded naturally and, if they failed, to mislead them further by offering to adjust the money against future exams.
Authorities reiterated that the integrity and confidentiality of the upcoming examination remain uncompromised.
(ANI)