In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended Yatin Yadav, the alleged mastermind behind the 2022 JKSSB sub-inspector recruitment exam paper leak scandal. Yadav, a suspected tout, was arrested in Jammu under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED’s case is based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR and charge sheet filed against Yadav and some others.
According to official sources, the JKSSB sub-inspector recruitment exam took place on March 27, 2022. Yadav, labeled as the ‘kingpin’ of the alleged paper leak gang, orchestrated a well-planned scheme involving other accused touts from Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. These touts facilitated candidates in accessing the leaked paper in exchange for payments ranging from Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 30 lakh. The ED sources further revealed that post-examination, the collected payments were mostly in cash and were funneled into Yadav’s bank accounts.
The Enforcement Directorate had previously attached Yadav’s bank accounts, as well as assets of others, totalling Rs. 1 crore as part of their investigative process. This arrest comes amidst a backdrop of increased scrutiny on examination irregularities, with recent allegations in exams like NEET-UG and UGC-NET leading to their investigation being handed over to the CBI by the Central government. The ED sources assert that Yadav’s role as the central figure in the paper leak scandal underscores the intricate network of individuals involved in such malpractices.
