In a significant development highlighting flaws in exam security, Delhi Police have unearthed an examination cheating racket that involved a dummy candidate sitting for a competitive test on behalf of another person. Four individuals have been arrested, including two school staff members who allegedly facilitated the act and a woman who orchestrated the entire scheme.
How the Cheating Was Detected
The incident came to light when vigilant invigilators at the exam center noticed discrepancies in the identification documents of one of the candidates. Upon closer scrutiny, the invigilators realized that the person attempting the exam did not match the official ID.
Police were called in, and their initial investigation revealed that the real candidate had paid a proxy to take the exam on her behalf. The impersonator was arrested on the spot.
Key Arrests and Roles
- The Dummy Candidate: A man who posed as the real candidate to take the exam, allegedly in return for a fee.
- Two School Staff Members: They are accused of deliberately bypassing identity verification procedures and facilitating the dummy candidate’s entry.
- The Mastermind: A woman who is believed to have planned and arranged the impersonation, exploiting known vulnerabilities in the exam process.
All four accused are now in police custody and facing charges related to fraud, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
What the Police Said
A senior police official involved in the investigation told The Hindu:
“This kind of organized cheating undermines the fairness of competitive exams and impacts deserving candidates. We are working closely with examination boards to plug security gaps and ensure stringent verification going forward.”
Widening Investigation
Police are not ruling out the involvement of a larger network. Authorities are examining whether the accused have participated in or facilitated similar frauds in other examinations. Forensic analysis of mobile devices and bank records is also underway to trace financial transactions and communications related to the case.
Impact on Examination Security
The incident has raised serious concerns about the integrity of examination processes across India. Many competitive exams already face scrutiny for leakages and impersonation cases, and this bust reaffirms the need for advanced biometric and AI-powered identification tools at exam centers.
Educational experts are also urging exam authorities to reconsider the way ID verification is conducted and to deploy technology like facial recognition and fingerprint scans.
FAQs
Q. How was the dummy candidate caught during the exam?
He was flagged during routine ID checks when invigilators noticed discrepancies between the photograph on the ID and the person sitting for the test.
Q. What are the charges filed against the accused?
They have been booked for impersonation, fraud, and criminal conspiracy under IPC sections.
Q. Have such cheating cases occurred before?
Yes, similar incidents have been reported in various states, often involving organized rackets and coaching centers.
Q. What steps are being taken to prevent future cheating incidents?
Police are working with examination authorities to strengthen ID verification and implement advanced biometric authentication methods.
Q. Could this case be linked to a larger fraud network?
Investigations are ongoing, and police suspect a wider ring may be involved based on communications found in seized devices.