||Black and White Digital News||

||Parvinder Singh June 26, 2024||

Jammu: In a significant development, the alleged kingpin of the 2022 Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB) sub-inspector recruitment exam paper leak case, Yatin Yadav, has been remanded to a seven-day custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The order was issued by Special Judge CBI Cases Jammu Bala Joyti on Tuesday, following Yadav’s arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The Arrest and Charges…

Yatin Yadav, a 43-year-old resident of Rewari, Haryana, was taken into custody on Monday evening. His arrest marks a crucial step in the investigation into the scandal that has tarnished the credibility of one of the most significant recruitment examinations in Jammu and Kashmir. The JKSSB sub-inspector exam, held on March 27, 2022, saw the cancellation of the selection list for 1,200 candidates, along with 1,300 junior engineers and 1,000 finance account assistants, in July the same year due to allegations of paper leaks and malpractice.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case and filed a chargesheet on November 12, 2022, against 33 accused individuals, including Yadav. The ED’s involvement stems from the CBI’s FIR, with the agency moving an application through its Special Public Prosecutor, Ashwani Khajuria, to secure Yadav’s custody for a more in-depth investigation.

Court Proceedings and Remand…

Yadav was presented in court by Investigating Officer Rahul Verma, Assistant Director of the ED’s Sub Zonal Office in Jammu. The prosecution sought a 14-day remand, arguing that the investigation was still in its initial stages and required thorough scrutiny. After reviewing the case diaries and the materials on record, Special Judge Bala Joyti granted a seven-day remand, emphasizing the need for expedited investigation during this period.

“From a perusal of case diaries and entire material on record, it transpires that since the accused was arrested on June 24, and that investigation of the case is at initial stage, as such he is remanded to ED custody for a period of seven days with effect from June 25,” stated the judge in her order.

Allegations and Wider Implications…

Yadav’s arrest occurs amidst widespread allegations of irregularities in other critical examinations, including the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) and the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), prompting the Centre to transfer these investigations to the CBI as well.

Sources within the ED have labeled Yadav as the “kingpin” of a sophisticated paper leak syndicate. It is alleged that he orchestrated a detailed scheme, enlisting other accused touts in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir to recruit candidates willing to pay between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 30 lakh for leaked exam papers. These payments, predominantly made in cash, were subsequently funneled into Yadav’s bank accounts.

In a prior move, the ED had frozen Yadav’s bank accounts, seized assets linked to him, and attached properties of his company, New Global Fumigation Corporation, totaling around Rs 1 crore.

Broader Impact and Future Directions…

The JKSSB exam paper leak case has highlighted the vulnerabilities within the examination and recruitment processes in India. The investigations into Yadav’s activities and his network are expected to reveal more about the extent of malpractice and corruption involved.

Special Judge Bala Joyti’s directive to the ED to expedite the investigation within the remand period underscores the urgency and importance of uncovering the full scope of the scandal. As the investigation progresses, more details are anticipated to emerge, shedding light on the mechanisms of such fraudulent activities and potentially implicating further individuals involved in this and other examination scams.

The outcome of this case will be closely watched, not just by the candidates whose futures were jeopardized, but also by the public and authorities aiming to restore integrity and trust in the country’s examination and recruitment systems.