Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
Leader of Opposition in State Assembly Babulal Marandi has launched a sharp attack on the state government, questioning the credibility of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and its Additional Director General Manoj Kaushik in the investigations into alleged JPSC and JSSC-CGL examination scams.
In two posts on X, Marandi alleged that public confidence in the CID had eroded and accused the agency of deliberately weakening investigations to protect influential persons allegedly linked to the examination irregularities.
He claimed that the CID had diverted the JSSC-CGL probe by blaming students who had travelled to Nepal for coaching, while allegedly ignoring the larger conspiracy. Marandi said several CGL questions were identical to those in previous examination papers and alleged that selected candidates had been coached in advance.
He further alleged that crucial evidence was concealed during proceedings before the trial court and the High Court. Questioning the CID’s handling of the JPSC case, Marandi alleged that a weak FIR was deliberately registered to shield political figures and the alleged masterminds.
Marandi also questioned why the JPSC chairman had not been arrested despite being questioned four times, alleging that the investigation was attempting to shift responsibility entirely onto the private agency engaged to conduct the examination.
He accused the CID of selectively leaking investigation details to the media to create a misleading narrative and divert public attention. Marandi further questioned why no fresh FIRs had been registered over alleged irregularities in earlier examinations involving Abhay Kumar Tiwari, whom he described as a key person associated with the examination agency.
In his second post, Marandi levelled allegations against Manoj Kaushik, claiming that the officer had faced serious allegations related to illegal coal trade and corruption during his tenure as Hazaribagh SP from 2013 to 2015. He also claimed that an ACB investigation later substantiated corruption allegations against Kaushik and that the agency sought the state government’s permission for further action.
Marandi alleged that Kaushik’s subsequent role in the CID had further compromised the JSSC-CGL investigation.
He demanded that the state government hand over the JPSC and JSSC-CGL investigations to the CBI, saying an independent probe was necessary to restore the confidence of Jharkhand’s youth and the public in the recruitment process.
