CBI Cracks Down on Departmental Examination Paper Leak in East Central Railway
In a significant operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a departmental examination paper leak scam under the East Central Railway at Mughal Sarai. The operation, launched on the intervening night of March 3rd and 4th, 2025, led to the arrest of 26 individuals, including senior railway officials, loco pilots, and other employees.The Investigation and Arrests
The CBI acted upon credible intelligence indicating that a Departmental Examination for the post of Chief Loco Inspectors, scheduled for March 4th, 2025, had been compromised. The investigating agency conducted surprise checks at three different locations in Mughal Sarai, where 17 candidates were caught red-handed with photocopies of handwritten question papers.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer (Operations), responsible for setting and preparing the examination paper, had leaked the questions. The accused allegedly wrote the questions in English and passed them to a Loco Pilot, who translated them into Hindi and then forwarded them to an Office Superintendent (Training). The Office Superintendent subsequently distributed the leaked papers to candidates through other railway employees in exchange for money.
Financial Transactions and Search Operations
Following the operation, the CBI conducted searches at eight locations, leading to the recovery of a staggering Rs. 1.17 crore in cash. This amount was allegedly collected from candidates in return for access to the leaked question papers. Handwritten and photocopied question papers were also seized and later matched with the original examination papers, confirming the leak.
The Accused and Their Roles
The arrested individuals include high-ranking railway officials, loco pilots, and other staff members. A detailed breakdown of the accused is provided in the table below:
| SI No. | Name | Designation | FIR Named (Yes/No) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sushant Parashar | Sr. DEE (Ops), DRM Office, DDU | Yes |
| 2 | Niraj Kumar Verma | Chief Office Superintendent, HQ at DDU | Yes |
| 3 | Raj Narayan Singh Yadav | LPG at HQ DDU | Yes |
| 4 | Ajit Kumar Singh | Chief Loco Inspector, HQ at DDU | Yes |
| 5 | Anish Kumar | Loco Pilot Shunter, DDU | Yes |
| 6 | Suryanath | Loco Pilot Passenger, HQ DDU | Yes |
| 7 | Shiv Nath Kumar | Loco Pilot Passenger, HQ DDU | No |
| 8 | Mithilesh Kumar | Loco Pilot Passenger, DDU | No |
| 9 | Sumit Kumar | Loco Pilot Goods, HQ Gaya | No |
| 10 | Jai Prakash Singh Kushwaha | Loco Pilot Passenger, O/o Chief Crew Controller, DDU | No |
| 11 | Kanhaiya Kumar Singh | Loco Pilot Mail, HQ Gaya, Division DDU, ECR | No |
| 12 | Santosh Kumar | Loco Pilot Passenger, DDU | No |
| 13 | Shri Manoj Kumar Paswan | Loco Pilot Mail, Gaya | No |
| 14 | Binod Kumar Singh | Loco Pilot Goods, HQ at DDU | No |
| 15 | Jitendra Kumar | Loco Pilot Passenger, HQ at Gaya | No |
| 16 | Prashant Kishore Singh | Loco Pilot Passenger, HQ DDU | No |
| 17 | Gaurav Kumar Pathak | Loco Pilot Passenger, HQ at DDU | No |
| 18 | Nagendra Kumar Verma | LPM, HQ at Gaya | No |
| 19 | Sadhu Saran Prasad | LPM, HQ at Gaya | No |
| 20 | Azad Kumar | Loco Pilot Passenger, Gaya | No |
| 21 | Rakesh Kumar | Loco Pilot Passenger, DDU | No |
| 22 | Dinesh Kumar Ram | Loco Pilot Goods, HQ at DDU | No |
| 23 | Ramayan | Retired Chief Loco Inspector, HQ DDU | No |
| 24 | Deepak Prakash Jyoti | Loco Pilot Goods, HQ DDU | No |
| 25 | Sanjay Kumar Mishra | Chief OS, O/o Sr. DPO, Personal Branch, DDU | No |
| 26 | Surjeet Singh | Sr. Divisional Personnel Officer, DDU | No |
Legal Proceedings and Further Investigation
The CBI has formally registered a case against the accused individuals under various sections related to corruption, criminal conspiracy, and fraud. Investigators are currently probing further leads to determine whether more individuals were involved in the racket.
Authorities believe that the case may have wider ramifications, with the potential involvement of additional personnel from different railway divisions. The CBI is also investigating whether similar examination paper leaks have occurred in other railway zones.
Impact on the Railway System
The exposure of such a large-scale examination fraud has raised concerns over the integrity of the railway recruitment process. The case highlights the vulnerability of departmental examinations to corruption and the urgent need for stricter security measures.
In response to the scam, railway authorities have vowed to strengthen examination protocols to prevent future leaks. Measures under consideration include:
- Digitization of question papers to minimize human handling.
- Enhanced surveillance and monitoring of officials involved in exam-related processes.
- Introduction of encrypted question papers with access limited to designated personnel.
- Strict vetting of officials assigned to exam-related duties to prevent malpractices.
Public Reaction and Official Statements
The exposure of the paper leak has drawn strong reactions from railway employees and the general public. Many have expressed disappointment over the involvement of high-ranking officials in the scam.
A railway spokesperson condemned the incident, stating: “The railway administration is committed to ensuring transparency and fairness in all recruitment and examination processes. Any official found guilty will face strict legal action.”
Meanwhile, candidates who appeared for the examination without involvement in the fraud have demanded justice and a re-examination to maintain fairness.
Conclusion
The CBI’s crackdown on the examination paper leak in East Central Railway is a major step in curbing corruption within the system. With 26 arrests, including senior officials, the case underscores the importance of vigilance in recruitment and promotional examinations.
As investigations continue, it remains to be seen how deeply rooted this malpractice is within the railway system. Authorities are expected to implement stringent reforms to prevent similar incidents, ensuring fair opportunities for deserving candidates. The railway administration’s response in the coming days will be crucial in restoring public confidence in its examination processes.
