VSSC cheating case: Accused used specially designed device for malpractice, says police commissioner

Thiruvananthapuram: In an update to the alleged cheating incident during a recruitment test conducted by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram city police commissioner CH Nagaraju on Tuesday said that the crime was conducted after days of planning and the racket involved in the malpractice has roots across the country. 

“Specially manufactured electronic devices were used for cheating in the exam. We think that the devices were regionally manufactured. In addition to mobile phones, they also utilised a specially designed headset connected to another device in which sim cards can be inserted. These were linked to a control room from where the answers were sent to them,” Nagaraju said. 

He further added that the accused had worn specially stitched shirts on which the cameras were installed on the button holes. Accurate planning is necessary to carry out such tasks. Three such devices have been recovered so far. Those are quite old indicating that the culprits would have committed similar crimes elsewhere too. 

The officer also stressed on the need to seek the assistance of Haryana Police for further investigation. “In 2022, as many as 29 Haryana natives were nabbed in connection with a similar case over Defence C Group examination. Probe will be carried out to find whether it has any links with the current case,” he added. 

On Sunday, the Museum and Medical College police had apprehended two Haryana natives Sumit Kumar (25) and Sunil (25) from Cotton Hill and St Mary's Higher Secondary School respectively in connection with the cheating case. Their address was proved to be fake during verification. They allegedly captured images of the question paper using a mobile phone and sent them to coaching centres in Haryana.