The investigation into alleged irregularities in the 14th preliminary examination (PT) of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has taken a significant turn, with fresh details emerging from CID interrogation of an alleged network that reportedly promised candidates success in exchange for money. According to a statement attributed to Umesh Kumar, a hotel businessman and former business partner of Abhay Tiwari, 11 candidates allegedly cleared the 14th JPSC PT after paying large sums, with Umesh himself reportedly paid ₹5 lakh per candidate as part of the arrangement. As with any statement recorded during interrogation, these claims remain allegations at this stage, not established facts.
How the Alleged Arrangement Reportedly Worked
According to the statement attributed to him, Umesh had previously worked alongside Abhay Tiwari and Abhay's brother-in-law Saurabh Tiwari in what's alleged to have been an ongoing operation helping candidates clear various examinations through arranged, favourable outcomes in exchange for money. He reportedly said that initially he was only given money to cover expenses, before a fixed payment of ₹5 lakh per candidate was later agreed upon.
A Conversation in January, According to the Statement
During CID questioning, Umesh allegedly said Abhay Tiwari informed him in January 2026 about an arrangement to help select certain candidates in the 14th JPSC examination, with candidates reportedly chosen through contacts and payments rather than solely through the standard examination process. He claimed he was instructed to collect money and candidates' original certificates from agents and hand them over to Abhay, with the rest of the process reportedly coordinated through an agency.
He further alleged that 11 candidates had paid substantial sums to clear the 14th JPSC PT, a claim that investigators consider potentially significant, since earlier questioning in the case had produced broader allegations about money being collected from candidates without clearly identifying specific individuals by name or roll number.
Alleged Pricing by Category
Statements recorded during the investigation reportedly indicate that different amounts were demanded depending on a candidate's category. General-category candidates were allegedly charged as much as ₹1 crore for securing success in the exam, while SC-ST candidates were reportedly asked to pay up to ₹80 lakh. A separate claim suggests candidates seeking only preliminary-exam clearance were allegedly required to submit their original certificates along with an additional ₹10 lakh payment.
None of these figures have been independently established through documentary or financial evidence yet. Investigators are expected to verify these claims by cross-checking examination records, candidate documents, and financial transactions.
Allegations That Abhay Himself Benefited
Umesh also reportedly told investigators that Abhay Tiwari had personally cleared various examinations through alleged fixing arrangements, claiming Abhay had access to JPSC and TDPL. CID is now examining these allegations independently, working to determine the true extent of the alleged network and whether any intermediary, employee, or other person connected to the examination process facilitated the operation.
A Broader Claim From Earlier in the Investigation
Earlier in the probe, statements attributed to several accused had reportedly mentioned collecting money from candidates and helping around 100 candidates clear the PT, though those statements lacked a definitive list identifying exactly who had paid and how much. Umesh's alleged identification of 11 specific candidates could give investigators concrete leads to verify against examination results, application records, and other documentation.
Following the Money and the Paper Trail
Investigators are examining the alleged financial chain in detail, trying to establish who collected money from candidates, how payments were made, who ultimately received the funds, and where candidates' original certificates were deposited. Bank accounts, mobile phones, digital conversations, and other electronic evidence are also expected to be scrutinised, part of a broader financial investigation aimed at tracing whether money moved directly to beneficiaries or through intermediaries and multiple accounts.
Could the Network Extend Beyond This One Exam?
Investigators are also examining whether the alleged fixing network was limited to this one 14th JPSC PT exam, or whether it operated during earlier examinations too, a possibility raised by Umesh's alleged references to prior exams. The core challenge going forward is corroborating these statements with independent evidence; if examination records, financial transactions, and digital evidence line up consistently, other members of the alleged network, including intermediaries and candidates who may have paid money, could come under further scrutiny.
FAQs
Q1. What has Umesh Kumar allegedly told investigators?
That 11 candidates cleared the 14th JPSC PT after paying large sums, with him personally receiving ₹5 lakh per candidate as part of an alleged fixing arrangement.
Q2. How much were candidates allegedly charged?
General-category candidates were allegedly charged up to ₹1 crore, SC-ST candidates up to ₹80 lakh, with an additional ₹10 lakh reportedly required for those seeking only PT clearance.
Q3. Have these allegations been proven?
No. These are statements attributed to a person questioned during the investigation and have not yet been independently established through documentary or financial evidence.
Q4. What is CID currently investigating?
The financial trail behind the alleged payments, including bank accounts, digital evidence, and whether the alleged fixing network extended beyond the 14th JPSC PT to earlier examinations.