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Eleven Arrested in Uttar Pradesh for Exam Cheating Scheme

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force has arrested eleven individuals, including a principal and several solvers, for a cheating scheme during a computer-based exam at Naini ITI. The operation involved candidates paying to have others take their tests. A raid revealed multiple items linked to the cheating, and legal action is being pursued under relevant laws. This incident highlights ongoing issues with exam integrity in the region.
By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 30, 2026, 23:25 IST

Major Cheating Scandal Uncovered in Prayagraj

The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh has apprehended eleven individuals, including the principal, in connection with a large-scale cheating operation during a computer-based test (CBT) held at the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Naini. This incident involved candidates paying money to have 'solvers' take the exam on their behalf. An STF official revealed that among those arrested was Principal Ashok Kumar, along with five solvers: Shivam Kumar, Ranvijay Singh, Jai Singh, Jitendra Patel, and Dilip Kumar. Additionally, the examination supervisor Ravi Prakash and four instructors—Phool Prakash, Dheeraj Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, and Rajkumar Maurya—were also taken into custody.

The STF team seized several items from the examination center, including five admit cards, five monitors, five CPUs, five keyboards, five mice, cash amounting to ₹5.10 lakh, exam-related documents, and six Android mobile phones.


According to the officer, a tip-off indicated that between July 11 and August 8, during three shifts of the CBT, officials and staff were facilitating mass cheating for a fee, allowing solvers to take the place of the original candidates. On Wednesday, the STF conducted a raid at the examination center and discovered solvers taking the test in place of the actual candidates. During questioning, Ravi Prakash admitted that he was appointed as the examination supervisor by the principal.


He further disclosed that weaker candidates were charged money to have solvers take their exams in separate rooms. Legal action has been initiated against these individuals under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, with further legal proceedings underway.