Crime Branch finds 45 questions in Kerala PSC Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector exam copied verbatim from web handbooks
Thiruvananthapuram: The Crime Branch has uncovered fresh irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), discovering that 45 questions in the Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector exam were copied verbatim from online study portals, officials confirmed on Saturday.
The fresh case was registered on Friday following a complaint by Rahul Raj, a resident of Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, against unidentified PSC officials.
According to the FIR, the alleged malpractices extended beyond question paper leaks. It highlights the inclusion of candidates who failed to meet prescribed physical standards, alongside the last-minute addition of two non-notified educational qualifications before the application deadline. The FIR specifically states that 45 questions were lifted directly from digital platforms.
These irregularities allegedly led to the inclusion of ineligible candidates in the rank list published on September 2, 2024, depriving qualified applicants of job opportunities. The case has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The crackdown comes amid a widening probe by the Crime Branch into multiple PSC examinations:
Fisheries Extension Officer Recruitment: In a separate case registered on October 28, the Crime Branch named the PSC chairman, board members, and officials as accused. The FIR alleges that the rank list published on November 28, 2022 (valid until November 28, 2025), was manipulated to favor candidates from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Oceanic Studies (KUFOS) who had close ties to the PSC leadership and CPI(M)-sympathising officials.
Khadi Board & Village Oil Inspector: Two additional cases have been registered to investigate alleged nepotism and administrative irregularities during the selection process for these posts.
State Planning Board Recruitment: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing this examination uncovered major flaws in the On Screen Marking (OSM) system, where 10 descriptive Economics questions worth 58 marks were left unevaluated due to wrong evaluator assignments.
Following a complaint by candidate Shyam Krishna—who was initially ranked third—a official revaluation pushed him to the first rank, while the original top-rank holder, Arun J Pradeep, dropped to fifth position.
The Crime Branch SIT has so far arrested two PSC officials in connection with the evaluation fraud and has interrogated PSC Chairman M.R. Baiju alongside other commission members as the broader investigation continues. (PTI)