The Chhattisgarh government has cancelled the Rajnandgaon constable recruitment exam after initial findings revealed that incorrect entries were made in the marks of approximately 3,000 candidates. The ruling BJP made this decision following the suicide of a constable involved in the exam, who alleged massive irregularities. In his dying declaration, he claimed that while strict action was taken against constables, high-ranking officers who benefitted from the recruitment scam were not held accountable.
Following instructions from Chief Minister Visnu Deo Sai, Home Minister Vijay Sharma ordered the cancellation of the recruitment drive. The government has also formed a special investigation team (SIT) led by Durg IG Deepak Kumar Jha to investigate the matter. The SIT is expected to submit its investigation report within 10 days.
A private company hired to facilitate the exam has been accused of making incorrect entries in the report cards of around 3,000 candidates. So far, seven individuals, including a candidate and four constables, have been arrested in connection with the case. The WhatsApp and mobile phones of the suspects are currently under examination.
In response to the cancellation of the recruitment, the Congress party raised concerns, claiming that those who complained were imprisoned. They allege that a scam has occurred and that the rights of the youth have been compromised.
The body of the constable was discovered hanging from a tree 1 km inside Rampur Road in the Lalbagh police station area. Congress’s state communication chief, Sushil Anand Shukla, stated that simply canceling the process will not suffice. He argued that the government’s decision to cancel the recruitment indicates an acknowledgment of the irregularities that took place.
Shukla highlighted the case of a constable who committed suicide after being named in the exam. He called for a CBI inquiry into the suicide and demanded a judicial inquiry overseen by a High Court judge, insisting that strict action should be taken against those responsible for wrongdoing.
The recruitment process for 528 police posts in Rajnandgaon district began on November 16, 2024, during which discrepancies were reported in the physical test results. An FIR was filed against unknown individuals on December 16, 2024, one month after the recruitment process began at the Lalbagh police station.
There is a mismatch between the manual data and the entered data, and discrepancies have been noted between the timing of the events and the registration of points. While the company’s officials claim they are working to gather accurate data, no concrete evidence has been found so far.
