TSPSC Question Paper Leak Scam: SIT Files Chargesheet, Names 37 Persons

Hyderabad: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the TSPSC question paper leak scam filed a preliminary chargesheet of nearly 150 pages in court on Friday, naming 37 persons and alleging that ₹1.64 crore had changed hands for the sale and purchase of the papers.

So far, police have found that the question papers for Group-1, DAO, assistant electrical engineers and assistant engineers posts had been leaked.

The chargesheet names the main accused Pulidindi Praveen Kumar, assistant section officer (ASO) and personal assistant to the TSPSC secretary, and Atla Raja Shekar, an outsourcing employee working as a network admin in the commission.

SIT chief A.R. Srinivas told Deccan Chronicle that the SIT had submitted strong evidence, supported by forensic reports, establishing the role of the 37 persons. “Investigation related to the other arrested accused and their role is continuing. A chargesheet will be filed against them as well,” he said.

Srinivas said material evidence had been sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Ramanthapur, and expert and legal opinion obtained.

The SIT has identified 50 persons in the scam and arrested 49, including candidates, mediators, organisers, employees at TSPSC. One of the accused, Group 1 candidate Prashant Reddy, is in New Zealand and a lookout notice has been issued against him.

The chargesheet is supported by thousands of pages of statements of the accused, witnesses, TSPSC members, officials, investigators, seizure reports, panchnamas and other documents. The SIT showed how the main accused conspired to leak the question papers and how other accused sold the papers to multiple persons.

FSL reports confirmed unauthorised access into the confidential section computers at TSPSC which was corroborated by the presence of the main accused in the premises at the same time, the chargesheet said.

Analysis of pen drives, laptops seized from the main accused also proved the question papers stored in them were raw copies of the original question papers.

The score cards of all candidates who have appeared for the exam by preparing from leaked question papers have also been included, to corroborate with other evidence.