Navodaya Vidyalaya Recruitment Exam Scam: Candidates Admit to Paying Large Sums for Cheating
Shimla: Major Cheating Scandal Uncovered
Recent developments in the investigation surrounding the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) recruitment exam for non-teaching staff have revealed alarming details. Numerous candidates have confessed to spending between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 12 lakh each to secure 'guaranteed success' through advanced cheating techniques.
Initial reports from the Himachal Pradesh Police indicate that this cheating operation was not only technologically advanced but also highly profitable. Several individuals were apprehended with concealed electronic devices during the examination conducted on Sunday. During police interrogations, they disclosed that they had made substantial payments to middlemen prior to entering the examination venue.
According to police sources, many candidates paid half of the total fee upfront, with the remaining amount contingent upon their results. A senior officer involved in the investigation remarked, 'This indicates a well-structured and nationwide cheating network linked to the NVS recruitment exam.' He added that candidates were equipped with devices and maintained communication with accomplices outside the examination hall throughout the test.
Each participant was allegedly given a microchip device, equipped with a SIM card, which enabled them to receive answers in real-time via Bluetooth. This chip was connected to a discreet earpiece, cleverly concealed within the ear, making it difficult to detect during standard security checks. It was only after candidates' frequent trips to the restroom raised alarms that invigilators uncovered the cheating scheme.
The police have apprehended over 40 candidates using such devices across eight examination centers in Shimla, leading to the filing of five FIRs and the initiation of a search for the primary orchestrators of this scam. The involvement of operatives from Haryana is under investigation, as a significant number of those caught are from that state.
The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti's recruitment exam, scheduled from May 14 to 19, aims to fill 1,377 non-teaching positions, including roles such as staff nurses, pharmacists, mess helpers, junior secretarial assistants, and stenographers.
Authorities have expressed concerns that the use of sophisticated devices and substantial financial transactions indicate the presence of a well-organized national racket operating across various states. Investigators are currently scrutinizing the financial records and digital communications of the arrested individuals.
'This is not merely cheating; it represents a significant criminal enterprise taking advantage of public recruitment processes,' stated one official. 'The magnitude of the funds involved suggests that this scam could amount to crores of rupees.'