JEE-21 Manipulation Case: CBI Conducts Searches At Multiple Locations In Different Cities

As many as 25 laptops, seven desktops, and a plethora of "incriminating" documents and gadgets, including a provisional degree certificate and mark sheets were found from students.

(Representational Image) ( Image Source :AFP )

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches on Saturday at 19 locations across different cities, including Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), in connection with the alleged rigging of the JEE (Mains) examination in 2021, news agency PTI reported citing officials. 

CBI searches at 19 locations in multiple cities including Delhi-NCR in connection with probe into JEE-21 alleged manipulation case: Officials

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 4, 2023

Besides from Delhi, searches were conducted in Pune, Jamshedpur, Indore, and Bangalore. As per the report, the agency found up to 25 laptops, seven desktop computers, over 30 post-dated cheques, and a plethora of "incriminating" documents and equipment, including provisional degree certificate (PDC) mark sheets from various students.

"Several persons are being questioned. The investigation is continuing," a CBI spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI.

The agency charged Affinity Education Pvt Ltd and its three directors, Siddharth Krishna, Vishwambhar Mani Tripathi, and Govind Varshney, as well as several touts and associates, with examination manipulation in September 2021.

It was alleged that the three directors, in collaboration with other associates and touts, were manipulating the online JEE (Mains) examination and facilitating aspiring students' admission into top National Institutes of Technology in exchange for large sums by solving the applicants' question papers via remote access from a chosen examination centre in Sonepat (Haryana).

"It was also alleged that the accused used to obtain class 10 and 12 mark sheets, user IDs, passwords, and post-dated cheques of aspiring students in different parts of the country as security and once admission was done, they used to collect heavy amount ranging from 12-15 lakh (approx) per candidate," the spokesperson said. 

(With Inputs From PTI)