The CBI today registered an FIR to probe alleged irregularities in the upper subordinate examination conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission in 2015, officials said.
The agency had received a recommendation from the state government to initiate an investigation into the examination in which several allegations, including flouting of rules, favouritism and preferential treatment to some castes, were levelled.
The Central Bureau of Investigation had registered a preliminary enquiry to look into alleged irregularities in the tests conducted by Allahabad-based UPPSC between 2012 and 2017, they said.
Based on the collection of prima facie material, the agency today registered an FIR against unidentified officials of the UPPSC and others in connection with the 2015 examination on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption.
The officials said the agency may register more FIRs related to the examinations conducted by the UPPSC between 2012 and 2017.
The complaints alleged that grave irregularities in the exams held during the tenure of the Samajwadi Party government had taken place which were related to the interview, changing of answer booklets, examination not being cancelled in spite of questions being leaked, violation of rules relating to reservation, more marks being given to candidates of a particular region and a particular caste, the agency said.
During the course of the enquiry, the CBI alleged that officials of the UPPSC did not did not part with information on one pretext or other and did not hold an enquiry.
"However, the enquiry conducted so far revealed that unknown officials of the UPPSC had connived with some other persons and candidates for the upper subordinate examination, 2015 and committed irregularities," it alleged.
The agency said the probe found that moderation was done and reports were submitted by the moderators in an arbitrary manner violating Supreme Court guidelines.
It claimed that because of corrupt practices of the officials, some undeserving candidates qualified for the interview on the basis of marks increased due to the moderation.
Some deserving candidates became ineligible for the interview as their marks were reduced in the moderation, the CBI alleged.
"The enquiry further revealed that some candidates had marked unique features in their answer scripts which could easily lead to their identification during the valuation of the answer scripts.
"However, none of the evaluators or UPPSC officials had pointed out the conduct of the candidates during the evaluation of the answer scripts nor any marks were deducted on this count which shows ulterior motive on the part of unknown officials of UPPSC," the agency claimed.
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