Kerala Crime Branch Probes PSC Exam Irregularities with SIT
The Kerala government has ordered a Crime Branch investigation, led by Inspector General S. Ajeetha Begum, into alleged irregularities in Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) exams, particularly for State Planning Board posts. Complaints include answer sheet manipulation favoring Left-affiliated candidates. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is recording statements, seeking documents, and may expand the probe. Protests have erupted, and the SIT must submit fortnightly reports.
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Kerala PSC hands over documents to Crime Branch in recruitment probe
The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has handed over documents requested by the special investigation team probing a controversial recruitment process. The documents, including question papers and answer keys, were reportedly submitted on Friday. The Crime Branch had sought records related to the State Planning Board examinations, such as the question paper, answer key, list of candidates who took the exam, and details of the interview shortlist. The handover is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment process.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Special investigation team expanded in Kerala PSC exam irregularities case
The special investigation team (SIT) probing alleged malpractices in the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) examination system has been expanded from three to ten members. Inspector General Ajeetha Begum continues to head the team. New appointees include a Circle Inspector, a Cyberdome official for technical analysis, and two women police officers. The Crime Branch team aims to accelerate the inquiry and widen its scope. The SIT has approached the Kerala PSC headquarters for access to crucial documents, including question papers and answer sheets of about 200 candidates. While the PSC has agreed to cooperate, it may withhold certain confidential information such as evaluator identities. Investigators have already recorded statements from five complainants and plan to question more witnesses in the coming days.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Kerala PSC Exam Irregularities: Crime Branch Seeks Documents from Commission
The special investigation team (SIT) probing alleged examination irregularities in the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has formally requested documents from the commission related to the controversial State Planning Board recruitment process. Investigators seek the question paper, answer key, candidate list, interview shortlist details, and on-screen marking process records. While the PSC has assured cooperation, it remains uncertain whether it will share confidential records, as it typically does not do so with external agencies. The Crime Branch has already recorded statements from candidates who appeared for exams for three Planning Board posts, with some providing evidence obtained through the Right to Information Act. The probe may expand beyond the Planning Board, as complaints of irregularities in other government departments are being scrutinized. The SIT, led by Inspector General S. Ajeetha Begum, was formed amid broader allegations of PSC exam irregularities.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Kerala PSC Irregularities: Crime Branch Team Visits PSC Headquarters, Records Complainant Statements
The investigation into alleged irregularities in Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) examinations intensified as a special investigation team (SIT) from the Crime Branch, led by Inspector General S. Ajeetha Begum, visited the PSC headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. Earlier, the team recorded detailed statements from complainants K. Shyam Krishnan and J.S. Jayalal, who secured third and fifth ranks respectively in the recruitment for Chief (Industry and Infrastructure) at the State Planning Board. Their depositions lasted nearly five hours. The complainants alleged serious manipulation of the final rank list, including improper evaluation of answer scripts with many questions left unevaluated, leading to deserving candidates being excluded. The PSC had previously frozen the disputed rank list. The SIT is now corroborating the claims with official records and plans to formally register First Information Reports after further scrutiny.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Kerala PSC Exam Irregularities: SIT to Record Complainant Statements, Decide on Criminal Cases
The special investigation team (SIT) constituted by the Kerala state government to probe alleged irregularities in Public Service Commission (PSC) examinations is intensifying its investigation. The Crime Branch-led SIT, headed by Inspector General S. Ajeetha Begum, will record detailed statements from complainants and assess over 10 complaints received so far. The team will determine which allegations warrant criminal cases and decide on registering First Information Reports (FIR) after initial evidence assessment. The probe focuses on examination malpractice, procedural violations, and irregularities suspected to have affected multiple PSC exams, particularly those conducted for the State Planning Board. The SIT will seek official records from the PSC and direct the commission to preserve all relevant documents. A preliminary investigation report is expected to be submitted to the State Police Chief by end of July 2026, after which the Home department will decide on further action.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.SIT Formed to Investigate Irregularities in Kerala PSC Exams
The Kerala Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC). The SIT, chaired by Inspector General S. Ajeetha Begum, was formed a day after the state cabinet ordered a Crime Branch investigation. The probe follows complaints about manipulation of answer sheets in exams for senior posts held in July 2023, with accusations that the process favored candidates affiliated with Left organizations. The developments sparked protests by the Youth Congress and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha at the PSC headquarters. Youth Affairs Minister O.J. Janeesh called for a broader investigation into PSC exams over the past decade under the previous Left Democratic Front government. The SIT is mandated to submit fortnightly progress reports and can co-opt additional personnel.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Kerala government orders Crime Branch probe into PSC exam irregularities
The Kerala Home Department has issued orders entrusting the Crime Branch (CB) with investigating allegations of irregularities in examinations conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC). The probe will be led by a team headed by Inspector General S. Ajeetha Begum. The decision follows mounting complaints regarding the evaluation process for various posts within the State Planning Board. The high-level investigation was initiated after the Vigilance Director recommended a detailed probe, and the government also reviewed the legal opinion submitted by the Director General of Prosecutions before handing the case to the specialized unit.
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