Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh – In a significant operation, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) arrested two individuals on January 12, 2025, for cheating in the Territorial Army General Duty Clerks and Tradesmen Recruitment examination using electronic call receiver devices. The arrest was made in collaboration with the Military Intelligence (MI) unit at the Dogra Regiment Center in Ayodhya.
The accused, identified as 19-year-old Vikas Rai from Varanasi and 30-year-old Sukhnandan Yadav from Betul, Madhya Pradesh, were found using electronic devices to communicate with members of a solver gang during the examination. These devices allowed them to receive answers remotely, with the help of gang members positioned outside the exam center.
The STF recovered significant evidence during the arrest, including two mobile phones with SIM cards, two admit cards, two examination question papers, two call receiver devices, and three earbuds. The operation was carried out following intelligence about a cheating mafia active in various recruitment exams in Uttar Pradesh.
The STF had been receiving reports about solver gangs operating across the state, prompting a covert surveillance operation. A team led by Sub Inspector Saurabh Mishra, working with MI inputs, caught the duo in the act while participating in the exam. During interrogation, the suspects revealed that they had paid ₹4 lakh each to solver gang members to ensure their success in the exam. They also disclosed that they purchased the devices for ₹8,000 each, having learned about them from YouTube.
The devices, small and discreet, were used to communicate answers to the candidates through an earpiece, allowing them to solve the questions remotely. Both suspects were arrested, and legal action has been initiated by the Cantt Police Station in Ayodhya.
The STF is continuing its investigation to identify other members of the solver gang and their network across Uttar Pradesh. The arrested individuals also mentioned a gang leader, Satyam Madhesia, who is believed to facilitate cheating in recruitment exams.
In a similar incident, a 25-year-old man was arrested in Mumbai for using a chip-enabled electronic device to cheat during a police recruitment exam. Authorities became suspicious when the candidate repeatedly touched his ear, leading to the discovery of a Bluetooth device hidden inside.
These arrests highlight ongoing efforts to combat cheating in competitive exams using modern technology.
