Ranchi
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Jharkhand Police on Monday afternoon arrested former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Chairman L. Khiangte in connection with alleged irregularities and a merit scam in the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination.
According to the CID, the investigation has uncovered allegations that rules were bypassed while awarding the examination contract to outsourcing agency TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), which had previously been blacklisted. The agency’s alleged role in the examination process and suspected bribery have emerged as key aspects of the investigation.
According to the CID, Abhay Tiwari, the marketing manager of the outsourcing agency who was previously arrested in the case, allegedly told investigators during questioning that Khiangte received around Rs 2 crore as a bribe from TDPL and took a commission equivalent to 20 percent of the total deal.
The CID had earlier questioned Khiangte in four separate rounds for more than 30 hours. The investigation also revealed that the then Examination Controller had submitted a written objection to awarding the contract to TDPL. The official had informed senior commission officials about the agency’s records.
According to the objection, the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission had blacklisted and de-listed TDPL on May 20, 2025.
Despite this, the agency was allegedly awarded the examination contract through nomination instead of an open tender process. During questioning, Khiangte reportedly defended himself by stating that the commission did not have official information about the agency’s blacklisting at the time of selection and described it as an administrative lapse. However, the CID continued investigating his alleged role in the matter.
Earlier, the CID had conducted searches at Khiangte’s government residence on Kanke Road and at the JPSC office. Several documents and electronic devices were seized during the searches.
The CID has so far arrested 19 accused persons in the case. Those arrested include JPSC Deputy Examination Controller Shweta Kumari Gupta, TDPL Director Ramveer Singh, Abhay Tiwari and the former chairman’s computer operator, among others.
The investigation agency has also sealed TDPL offices in Ranchi and Lucknow. The CID is now investigating whether additional officials and other individuals were involved in the alleged irregularities in the examination process and the parallel network allegedly operating in connection with the case.
