Shimla:
Shocking revelations have emerged in the ongoing investigation into the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) non-teaching staff recruitment exam scam, with several candidates confessing to paying between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 12 lakh each for “guaranteed success” using high-tech cheating methods.
According to initial findings by the Himachal Pradesh Police, the cheating racket was not just technologically sophisticated but also highly lucrative. Multiple candidates, caught red-handed with hidden electronic devices during the exam held on Sunday, admitted in police questioning that they had paid large sums to intermediaries before even entering the exam hall.
Half payment before exam, balance after results
Sources within the police said that in many cases, half of the agreed amount was paid upfront and the remainder was promised after the results. “This points to a well-organised and pan-India cheating syndicate in the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti non-teaching staff recruitment exam scam,” said a senior investigating officer. “The candidates were not only equipped with devices but were in direct contact with handlers outside the exam hall during the test.”
Each candidate was reportedly provided with a microchip device, fitted with a SIM card, allowing them to receive live answers via Bluetooth. The chip was connected to a barely visible capsule-like earpiece hidden deep inside the ear, making it nearly impossible to detect during routine frisking.
Only after a candidate’s repeated trips to the washroom raised suspicions did invigilators uncover the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti non-teaching staff recruitment exam scam.
Police in search of mastermind
With over 40 candidates caught using such devices across eight exam centres in Shimla, the police have registered five FIRs and launched a manhunt for the key masterminds. The role of Haryana-based operatives is once again under scrutiny, as most of the candidates caught hail from the state.
The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti non-teaching staff recruitment exam, being held from May 14 to 19, is part of a national-level recruitment drive for 1,377 non-teaching posts, including staff nurses, pharmacists, mess helpers, JSA and stenographers.
Police officials say the use of sophisticated devices and large money transfers raise the possibility of an organised national racket operating across multiple states. Investigators are now analysing the financial trails and digital communications of those arrested.
“This isn’t just cheating—it’s a full-blown crime ring exploiting public recruitment,” said one official. “The scale of money involved suggests this scam could be worth crores of rupees.”
Sunil Chadha
