Arunachal Pradesh to hand over paper leak case to CBI

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said his government has recommended a CBI inquiry into the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) exam paper leak.

The question paper of the exam for the Assistant Engineer (Civil), conducted on August 26 and August 27 by the APPSC, was leaked.

Addressing media persons at the civil secretariat, the State Home Minister Bamang Felix said, “Paper leakage matter will be investigated. The government has decided to hand over the case to the CBI to ensure a free, fair, impartial, and swift investigation.”

Reiterating the government’s commitment to root out corruption, Felix said that six people have so far been arrested in the case.

On being asked whether the CBI inquiry would be confined to the AE (Civil) paper leakage case or include other exams conducted by the APPSC, Felix said, “Presently, we are recommending an inquiry into the AE paper leakage case.”

Earlier, Chief Minister Pema Khandu stressed that the APPSC paper leakage case is “a big jolt to the entire state, which demoralises the aspirants, as well as myself.”

To root out the endemic corruption in the premier recruiting agency, the CM said that “I have recommended a CBI inquiry into the paper leakage issue so that thorough investigation is carried out and no one dares to indulge in corrupt practices in premier recruiting agencies like the APPSC and the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB).”

The chief minister also informed that the “deprived aspirants whose age limits have crossed due to marred exams will be considered through the cabinet, and they will be given an opportunity to appear for the exam.”

Earlier, a massive protest was held by thousands of participants at Itanagar against the recent question paper leakage of the AE civil examination conducted by APPSC demanding a CBI inquiry.

(With input from PTI)

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