Bihar staff panel chief held for paper leak

Jitendra K Shrivastava

Tribune News Service

Patna, February 24

Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) chairman Sudhir Kumar was today arrested by a Special Investigation Team in connection with the paper leak scam in clerical-grade recruitment examination even as the IAS Officers’ Association demanded a CBI inquiry to ensure a fair probe.

Before apprehending Kumar, the SIT sought warrant from a local court and collated ample evidence against him. The SIT also arrested four of Kumar’s relatives, including his brother and sister-in-law, who were allegedly involved in the paper leak case. All have been sent to the Beur Central Jail in Patna.

The SIT doubted Kumar when he failed to answer the probing team’s questions. The BSSC paper was leaked allegedly by the chairman through his relatives even as the responsibility of secrecy of question paper and evaluation goes to the chairman.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had set up the SIT led by Patna SSP Manu Maharaj to probe the case. “We have solid evidence against Kumar as we have gathered it on scientific and technical surveillance ground. The Chairman leaked the paper for his five relatives who were taking the exam and for money as well,” the SSP said.

Manu Maharaj said: “We produced memo of evidence before the court against the BSSC Chairman and the court granted permission to arrest him. The political nexus has not emerged so far but the probe is underway. We have already arrested 34 persons.”