SSC online recruitment exam cheating through remote access of candidates’ computers busted by U’khand, UP STF

Dehradun: Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh police special task forces (STFs), in a joint operation, busted a sophisticated cheating racket in the Staff Selection Commission's (SSC) online recruitment exam in Dehradun and arrested two persons on Sat. The accused allegedly used remote-access software to solve question papers on candidates' computers during the exam.Uttarakhand director general of police (DGP) Deepam Seth told TOI,"The cheating was being facilitated in the Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) recruitment exam conducted by SSC at an online exam centre in MKP Inter College in Dehradun on Friday. Acting on specific inputs, an STF team conducted a raid and found that the perpetrators were solving questions on candidates' screens using remote-access software," Seth said.The DGP added that given the sophistication of the operation and suspected involvement of an edutech firm, the probe may be expanded nationwide in coordination with other states. Police have written to the SSC seeking details about the suspected edutech firm, he said.The arrested persons were identified as Nitish Kumar, a resident of Deoria in Uttar Pradesh, and Bhaskar Naithani, a resident of Dehradun. "The two enabled unidentified handlers to access the computer systems of candidates using remote-access software, through two laptops hidden inside a discreet room on the exam centre premises. The handlers then solved the questions on the computers of candidates who paid them around Rs 10 lakh to pass the exam," said IG (STF) Nilesh Anand Bharne.Providing more details, additional SP, UP STF Brijesh Kumar Singh said, "Networking devices, routers, adapters, and concealed underground wiring connected to the lab and cameras were recovered from the spot." Bharne added, "A case has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS and the Uttarakhand Competitive Examination (Measures for Control and Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act. We are probing how many exams were conducted at the same centre and are trying to identify other persons involved."Another STF officer involved in the probe said that so far, as many as "16 students have come under the radar for paying money to the accused to pass the exam using unfair means"."We have also tracked down the IP addresses of the accused who remotely accessed candidates' computers to solve the questions," he added.(With inputs from Sandeep Rai in Meerut)