Police in Uttarakhand announced on Sunday that their ongoing investigation into the alleged leak of the state’s Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) graduate-level exam paper has not yet found any involvement from organized criminal groups. This statement was made as the Congress party continued to vocalize its criticism of the state government’s response to the issue.
The commission had previously requested a thorough police probe into the matter, with its chairman, Ganesh Singh Martolia, confirming that three pages of the question paper were indeed leaked from an examination center.
Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh stated that photographs of some exam questions were sent from a specific center, and all individuals involved in this act have been identified. He added that substantial evidence has been gathered against them.
The officer also mentioned that social activist Bobby Panwar is under suspicion for allegedly circulating screenshots of the paper on social media without verification, in what appears to be an attempt to sensationalize the incident.
Commission Chairman Ganesh Singh Martolia clarified, “This is not a case of a full-fledged paper leak, although the leakage of three pages from the question paper is certainly a cause for concern. If they were leaked, it’s plausible they were distributed or solved by someone.”
Martolia expressed his surprise, noting that mobile jammers had been installed at all centers, yet some pages still managed to be leaked. He confirmed that the commission has requested investigations by both the Dehradun SSP and a special task force. An internal inquiry is also being conducted to pinpoint the exact center responsible for the leak.
On Saturday, police arrested two individuals—Hakam Singh, a resident of Uttarkashi, and his associate Pankaj Gaur—for allegedly luring aspiring candidates with promises of clearing the exam for fees between ₹12 lakh and ₹15 lakh. Hakam Singh had faced similar charges previously.
Uttarakhand Congress president Karan Mahara strongly criticized the ruling BJP, alleging that the Pushkar Singh Dhami government has failed to control the paper leak “mafia” despite enacting a stringent anti-cheating law.
In a statement, Mahara described the incident as “another betrayal” by the Dhami government against the state’s youth, who have been waiting for job opportunities for years.
Mr. Mahara reiterated that the Dhami government had previously enacted the Uttarakhand Competitive Examination (Measures for Prevention and Control of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, promoting it as the country’s most stringent anti-cheating law. However, he claimed that all these assertions have now proven “hollow and empty.”
The Congress party leader reaffirmed his earlier concerns that the government might be protecting prominent leaders and high officials involved in the entire case. He alleged that the “mafia” continues to operate actively in the state while the government remains “inactive,” and pledged that the Congress would fight at every level to protect the interests of the youth.