Dismissed Indian Air Force Personnel Arrested In Connection With UP Police Paper Leak

Pramod Pathak (40) was held from the Mukherjee Nagar area of Delhi by the Noida unit of the Uttar Pradesh police’s Special Task Force (STF).

Delhi: A former Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel, who was discharged from service in 2022, has been arrested in Delhi in connection with an investigation into the UP Police Constable Recruitment 2024 question paper leak, officials reported on Wednesday. Pramod Pathak (40) was captured in the Mukherjee Nagar locality of Delhi by the Noida unit of the Uttar Pradesh police's Special Task Force (STF) following a tip-off, as reported by PTI.

Last month, three of his associates were detained in Jhansi over allegations of fraud linked to the state police constable recruitment examination conducted on February 17 and 18.

"During further investigation into the case, we received a tip-off about Pathak's presence in Mukherjee Nagar in Delhi from where he was held on Tuesday evening," Additional Superintendent of Police (STF) Raj Kumar Mishra said.

After questioning, Pathak's residence in Arun Vihar, located in Noida's Sector 37, was searched, leading to the discovery of incriminating evidence. A police officer confirmed that an FIR was lodged against Pathak at the Sector 39 police station under charges of cheating and forgery.

The seized items included two Aadhar cards - one genuine and another counterfeit, a fake Indian Air Force (IAF) identity card, 26 admit cards for various examinations, and 14 pages related to the Uttar Pradesh police recruitment process, the officer stated.

According to the Special Task Force (STF), Pathak joined the IAF as an Airman in 2009 and served until 2022. During his tenure, he was deployed in states such as West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, and Delhi.

While still working in the IAF, Pathak in 2017 opened a physical training academy for army recruitment and allegedly engaged in fraudulent activities, the probe agency said.

"Pathak, along with his associates, got involved in fraud in recruitment exams of the IAF, Navy, Coast Guard, Delhi Police, UP Police, SSC and various exams of the UP government. The IAF got information about this and held an inquiry into it after which Pathak was dismissed from service on August 18, 2022," the STF said.

Amidst reports of extensive fraud in the Uttar Pradesh Police constable recruitment examination, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the cancellation of the exam. He directed that the examination be conducted again within a span of six months.

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