ITI Online Exam Fraud Scandal: Principal and 11 Arrested in Exam Solver Racket

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ITI Online Examination Fraud Busted: Principal Among 11 Arrested for Alleged Solver Racket The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has dismantled an organized examination fraud scheme at the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Naini, in Prayagraj, where individuals allegedly facilitated unauthorized completion of online assessments by deploying third parties to take exams on behalf of candidates.

Operation Details

The operation resulted in the detention of 11 individuals, including the institute’s principal, an examination in-charge, multiple instructors, and several alleged individuals responsible for proctoring exams. A total of 19 people are named in the first information report (FIR) related to the case. Investigators believe the network operated for multiple years, potentially enabling fraudulent exam outcomes for hundreds of participants.

Suspects and Evidence

The accused reportedly charged candidates approximately ₹4,000 per transaction to arrange for trained individuals to complete assessments in their place. These solvers were provided with photocopies of candidate admit cards and seated in a dedicated computer laboratory within the examination facility. Using personal identifiers such as date of birth and other credentials, they allegedly accessed the online examination portal and submitted responses on behalf of the applicants. Each solver reportedly received ₹500 per completed test.

Investigation and Ongoing Efforts

The STF initiated the operation after receiving intelligence about widespread irregularities during the All India Vocational Examination, which took place between July 11 and August 8. A targeted raid was conducted during the third examination shift, leading to the immediate detention of suspects at the Skill Development Building on the institute’s premises. Subsequent searches uncovered ₹5.10 lakh in cash, five computers, six Android mobile devices, and 67 examination-related documents. Additional evidence, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, ATM cards, a pen drive, and ₹16,370 in cash, was recovered from locations linked to the accused.

Key Individuals Involved

The arrested individuals include Principal Ashok Kumar, Examination In-charge Ravi Prakash, instructors Phool Prakash, Dheeraj Kumar Sharma, Rajesh Kumar, and Rajkumar Maurya, as well as solvers Shivam Kumar, Jai Singh, Jitendra Patel, Dilip Kumar Patel, and Ranvijay Singh. Eight additional suspects are at large, including instructors Bholanath, Dheeranjan Kumar, and Santosh Kumar Soni, along with candidates Faizan, Raman Mishra, Dhanpat, Sachin Patel, and Dhirendra Kumar. STF and local police are conducting ongoing operations to locate and apprehend the remaining accused.

Digital and Physical Evidence

Digital devices and physical records are undergoing forensic analysis to reconstruct the scope of the fraud, identify beneficiaries, and trace financial transactions tied to the network. Authorities suspect the scheme may have impacted over 500 candidates in prior examinations. Investigators are reviewing historical exam records, computer login logs, CCTV footage, and digital evidence to assess the full scale of the operation. The probe also aims to determine if similar tactics were employed at other examination centers.