Patna: The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has cancelled the Assistant Education Development Officer (AEDO) examination following allegations of malpractice and irregularities across multiple districts. The decision was taken after eight FIRs were registered in six districts and 36 people were arrested in connection with the case.
The commission has also debarred 32 candidates from appearing in any future examinations conducted by BPSC. Around 1.1 million candidates had applied for the recruitment drive, which was being conducted for 935 posts.
Officials said district administrations had detected attempts of cheating at several centres using Bluetooth devices and other electronic gadgets. Investigations revealed that a group of candidates and external elements allegedly conspired to manipulate the examination process.
BPSC confirmed that all nine shifts of the AEDO exam conducted between April 14 and April 21 have been cancelled. Additionally, the written examination for the Assistant Public Sanitation and Waste Management Officer, held on April 23, has also been scrapped. Fresh dates for both exams will be announced soon, and candidates have been advised to monitor the official website for updates.
The case came under scrutiny after a tip-off received by the Munger district administration on April 13 regarding a planned cheating network. Police subsequently arrested a suspect, Sujal Kumar, late at night and recovered electronic devices, candidate admit cards, and documents allegedly linked to the operation.
According to the FIR, the accused had created messaging groups to share question papers and answers during the exam. Investigators suspect that individuals posing as biometric operators and supervisors were to photograph question papers and send them for solutions, which would then be relayed back to candidates in real time.
Authorities are also probing the role of a Jaipur-based firm contracted for biometric attendance at exam centres. The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) is examining whether there was any breach in the examination system and if company staff were involved in facilitating malpractice.
Despite the action, BPSC stated that no conclusive evidence of a question paper leak has been found so far. However, considering reports of irregularities and attempts to compromise the integrity of the exam, the commission decided to cancel it.
The investigation is ongoing, with officials trying to identify the alleged mastermind behind the operation. Several accused, including biometric staff and candidates, are being questioned, and more arrests are likely as the probe progresses.
