Chennai: The Tamilnadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) scam has become murkier with malpractice being detected in both Group-IV and Group-II exams conducted in 2019 and 2017, respectively.
According to sources, the Crime Branch CID (CB-CID) has launched a hunt for nearly 40 persons involved in the scam. The agency booked several persons under fresh cases on 31 January.
Several more candidates who gained high marks through the help of agents and government staff are expected to be arrested in the coming days.
It may be noted that, a few days ago, the CB-CID arrested three government employees who were allegedly involved in fraud in the Group-IIA services examination conducted by in 2017.
M Vignesh (28), of Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, who is employed as an assistant in the Home Department was arrested. He had allegedly paid Rs 9 lakh to the main accused, Jayakumar of Mugappair, to clear the examination, sources said.
P Sudha (39) of Thoothukudi and S Sudha Devi (36) were also arrested. The duo, it is said, paid Rs 8 lakh and Rs 7 lakh to clear the examination.
Sudha Devi of Villupuram worked as an assistant in the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Thiruvannmalai. A resident of Kotturpuram, she along with her husband Sampath and brother Karthi, allegedly collected Rs 38 lakh from various candidates to help pass Group IV services exam.
The Group II scam came to light after the arrest of Sithandi, a police constable from Sivagangai. He first came under suspicion in the Group IV exam, after four of his family members cleared it.
Many of the 16 persons arrested in the scam mentioned Sithandi’s name during investigation.
According to sources, K Velmurugan (30) working as assistant at the District Registrar’s office in Karaikudi and K Jayarani (30) of Sriviliputhur working as assistant at the Tirunelveli District Registrar’s office, conspired with Sithandi and Jayakumar, sources said.
The CB-CID has promised a reward of Rs 1 lakh for any information about Jayakumar. In the Group IV scam, the candidates used a special ink, which disappears after a few hours. Jayakumar then re-shaded it to the right answers.
He got access to the answers scripts through one H Omkanthan, a Record Clerk of the TNPSC, who is under police custody.