The case around alleged irregularities in Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations has taken a new turn with the arrest of Abhay Kumar Tiwari, also known as Manoj Kumar Tiwari. His interrogation, according to the inputs provided, has brought into focus an alleged network involving candidates, examination operators and people linked to the commission.Tiwari was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department on July 22 from Poreyahat in Godda district. He had earlier served as a Block Supply Officer in Poreyahat. Before entering government service, he had been associated with TSR Data Processing Private Limited, or TDPL, a Lucknow-based company that has operated several JPSC and JSSC examinations in Jharkhand. This firm itself has been blacklisted in Uttar Pradesh and other states as well.Unusually successful examination recordWhat has drawn particular attention is Tiwari’s own record as an examination candidate. According to the CID investigation, he cleared 12 competitive examinations in about 13 years. The list includes the Jharkhand’s Police Sub-Inspector examination, Indian Navy recruitment, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre examination, CRPF Head Constable recruitment, Northern Coalfields Limited recruitment, JSSC PGT and CGL examinations, and the JPSC ACF, FRO, FSO and Civil Services preliminary examinations.The investigation is now examining whether what appeared to be an unusually successful examination record was connected to the alleged manipulation of recruitment examinations.In government records, he was known as Abhay Kumar Tiwari. At TDPL, however, he worked as Manoj Kumar Tiwari in the position of marketing manager. The same company, which was involved in conducting JPSC and JSSC examinations in Jharkhand.The investigation has also turned towards Tiwari’s family. His brother Akshay Tiwari and his wife secured government jobs through examinations, including the JSSC CGL. The appointments of other family members are also under investigation. The allegation being examined is that the examination process was not only exploited for Tiwari’s own benefit, but also for members of his family.Rs 5 lakh cash recovered from rented houseThe arrest on July 22 brought the investigation into a more direct phase. The CID recovered around Rs 5 lakh in cash from his rented house in Poreyahat and brought him to Ranchi for questioning.Investigators allege that Tiwari used his own examination successes to establish credibility among candidates. He allegedly promised “guaranteed selection” and collected between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 40 lakh from candidates, with the amount allegedly going higher in some cases.It was during his remand, that investigators began to get details of an alleged examination syndicate and the rates attached to different stages of recruitment.For clearing preliminary examination, alleged rate:Rs 5 lakh — For candidates from the general categoryRs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh — For candidates from reserved categoriesFor final selection:Rs 60 lakh to Rs 70 lakh — Per candidateAdditional Rs 15 lakh — For increasing marks in interviewThe investigation has also brought the examination conducting agency into the centre of the allegations. The Tribune learned through its sources that Tiwari is stated to have told the CID that a deal worth Rs 2 crore was made with former JPSC chairman L Khiyangte to secure the examination contract for TDPL. A condition was allegedly attached to the arrangement that 20 per cent commission would be paid on every payment received by the agency.According to the statement attributed to Tiwari, contact with the former chairman was established through his computer operator, Dharmendra Kumar. Tiwari has also named former members of the commission and directors of TDPL during questioning.Candidates persuaded to trust networkThe alleged method of operation was not limited to one stage of an examination. Apparently, candidates were first persuaded to trust the network, with Tiwari’s own examination record being used as proof of its ability to deliver results. Money was then allegedly collected in return for manipulating different stages of the recruitment process.The alleged methods included changes to OMR sheets, leakage of answer keys and increasing marks during interviews. The investigation is examining the allegation that the system generated crores of rupees through such arrangements.The case therefore puts Tiwari’s examination history at the heart of the investigation. A man who had cleared 12 competitive examinations in roughly 13 years later became a government official and had also worked with a company involved in conducting recruitment examinations. The CID is now examining whether those two parts of his career were connected to the alleged examination network.The investigation has already widened beyond Tiwari. The former JPSC chairman and several members have resigned, while student protesting in Ranchi and opposition parties have demanded a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities.Tiwari remains in CID custody and questioning based on his statements is continuing. His disclosures, as described in the material provided, have given investigators names, alleged payment figures and details of how the examination process was purportedly manipulated.For now, the allegations remain subject to investigation. But the arrest has shifted the focus of the JPSC controversy from disputed examination results to the alleged machinery behind them. The central question now is not simply how candidates were allegedly helped to clear examinations, but whether a wider network operated across the examination process, who benefited from it and how far it extended.