Army cancels pan-India recruitment exam after paper leak; 3 arrested

New Delhi/Pune, February 28

Three people were arrested for alleged involvement in leaking an Army recruitment exam paper that had to be cancelled moments before it was scheduled on Sunday, Pune police said.

Police commissioner Amitabh Gupta said the exam was about to begin at 11 am but investigators found out an hour earlier that the paper details found in the phones of those apprehended matched the one that was set for aspirants.

Following the police action, the exam was cancelled, Gupta said, adding that an insider role, if any, in the leak was also being probed.

An offence has been registered at Vishrantwadi police station, another official said, but refused to give more details claiming it would hamper the probe that is underway in two to three districts to catch the mastermind.

“The Indian Army has zero-tolerance towards corrupt practices in the recruitment process for selection of suitable candidates,” an official said.

Based on a proactive joint operation with local police at Pune, a case of possible leakage of question paper prepared for Common Entrance Examination for Recruitment of Soldiers (General Duty) was reported last night, the official added.

While further investigations are underway, it was decided to cancel the examination to ensure continuous transparency in the recruitment process. —PTI