Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Friday arrested Satish Dhankad, the owner of a resort in Manesar, Haryana, in connection with the police constable examination paper leak.
The arrest comes after investigations revealed that he helped in the distribution of leaked examination papers among aspirants.
Dhankad was arrested from his resort, Nature Valley in Manesar town near Gurugram (Haryana). He has been charged under relevant sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Unfair Means in Public Examination Act.
According to officials privy to the investigation, Dhankad has alleged that Vikram Pahal, a constable in the Delhi police, orchestrated the leak. Dhankad said that Pahal had approached him with the proposal to utilize his resort for distribution of examination papers and assured him of monetary benefits to the tune of Rs 18-20 lakh.
“Dhankad claimed that Pahal, his associates Dawood, Anurag, and Guniya, who are currently on the run, reached his resort to finalize arrangements. Guniya, a resident of Sura Kaloi in Jhajjar district of Haryana, facilitated the transportation of candidates to the resort using buses from a travel agency, Saina Travellers,” an STF officer said.
“On Feb 16, Pahal and his accomplices reached the resort with question papers and answer keys for the second shift of the examination. The candidates assembled in the park of the resort where they were informed about the questions and their answers,” he added.
ASP (ATS), headquarters, Dinesh Kumar Singh said that kingpin Ravi Attri, Rajeev Nayan Mishra, Goldy, Vikram Pahal, and his aides Guniya, Dawood, Neetu, Monu Dhakla and Anurag are still on the run.
An STF officer said that accused Deepu and Bittu used to take contracts for paper leaks of examinations in UP and charged Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per candidate.
Pahal gave the examination paper to Haryana-based Mahendra Sharma for further circulation. Mahendra disclosed the names of Abhishek Shukla, Shivam Giri and Rohit Pandey.
Total 398 people have been arrested so far in connection with the UP police constable examination paper leak. The examination, held offline in four sessions on Feb 17-18, was cancelled by the state govt on Feb 24. Subsequently, the STF was given the task to investigate the matter.
