Nine arrested for TSPSC exam paper leak

HYDERABAD: Investigation into the leak of a question paper of the town planning overseer exam, conducted by the TS Public Service Commission (TSPSC), revealed that the accused had earlier leaked the question paper of the assistant engineer post exam held on March 5. Around 25,000 candidates had appeared for the exam across the state.

Police arrested nine persons, including Pulidindi Praveen Kumar, assistant section officer in TSPSC, Atla Raja Shekar, network admin in TSPSC, Renuka, a government teacher and her husband Lavdyavath Dhakya, working as a technical assistant in the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Vikarabad.

DCP, southwest, Kiran Khare said that Renuka and her husband, who knew Praveen for long, asked him for the question paper. With his colleague Rajashekar Reddy’s help, he procured the paper from a computer in the TSPC confidential section and gave it to the couple.

Through Renuka’s brother Rajeshwar, they scouted for candidates who would buy the paper. They offered it to Kethavath Srinivas, a 2020 batch constable from Medchal police station, Cyberabad, Khare said.

He refused, saying he was preparing for police recruitment, and directed them to Kethavath Neelesh Nayak and Pathlavath Gopal Nayak, engineering graduates. The couple collected around ₹13.50 lakh and gave the duo the question paper. They accommodated the two at their house at Mahbubnagar and escorted them to the exam centre in Saroornagar, the DCP said.

Another accused, Rajender Nayak, is Neelesh’s elder brother. He arranged the money for him to purchase the paper. Police said constable Srinivas was arrested because he did not report the question paper leak.

The other arrested were mediators Kethavath Rajeshwar and Kethavath Rajender Nayak. The former’s mother Laxmibai is a BRS sarpanch in their village.

DCP Khare said that they have found conclusive evidence for the leak. The probe is still on to verify if the question paper for the entrance, which was to be held on March 12, is also leaked.

He said an examination of their laptop, computer and mobile phones would help the police establish if other papers were also leaked.