Ranchi, August 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) chairman L. Khiangte was arrested by the state police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Monday in connection with alleged irregularities and a suspected merit scam in the JPSC 14th Civil Services Preliminary Examination.
According to the CID, Khiangte’s alleged role has come under scrutiny over suspected bribery and violations of prescribed procedures in awarding the examination contract to TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), a Lucknow-based outsourcing company that had previously been blacklisted.
Investigators allege that the contract was awarded to TDPL by bypassing established rules. The company had been blacklisted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) in May 2025 over alleged irregularities but allegedly continued receiving examination-related contracts, including from the JPSC.
The CID said Abhay Tiwari, TDPL’s marketing manager who was arrested earlier in the case, alleged during questioning that Khiangte accepted around Rs 2 crore as a bribe for awarding the contract. Tiwari also alleged that Khiangte received a commission equivalent to 20 per cent of the total contract value.
Before his arrest, Khiangte was questioned by the CID for more than 30 hours across four sessions.
Investigators also found that the then JPSC Controller of Examinations had raised a written objection to awarding the contract to TDPL. The official reportedly alerted senior Commission officials about the company’s past record and pointed out that the JSSC had blacklisted and de-listed TDPL on May 20, 2025.
Despite the objection, investigators allege, the contract was awarded to TDPL on a nomination basis instead of through an open tender.
During questioning, Khiangte reportedly maintained that the Commission was unaware of TDPL’s blacklisted status when the contract was awarded and described the lapse as an administrative oversight. The CID, however, continued investigating his alleged role.
The agency had earlier conducted searches at Khiangte’s official residence on Kanke Road and the JPSC office, recovering documents and electronic devices.
His arrest takes the total number of accused arrested in the case to 19. Those arrested include JPSC Deputy Controller of Examinations Shweta Kumari Gupta, TDPL director Ramvir Singh, Abhay Tiwari and the former chairman’s computer operator, among others.
The CID has also sealed TDPL offices in Ranchi and Lucknow as part of the investigation.
The agency is continuing its probe to identify other officials and individuals allegedly linked to the examination irregularities and the suspected network operating behind the scam.
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