Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Marandi Demands CBI Probe Into Jharkhand Recruitment Exam Irregularities
Babulal Marandi says some government job exams in Jharkhand may have had serious problems.
He wants the Central Bureau of Investigation, or CBI, to investigate instead of the state Crime Investigation Department, or CID.
He says students have lost trust because of how the earlier investigation was handled.
He also wants investigators to examine claims that some people tried to influence interview boards.
The Jharkhand government has cancelled several exams after complaints and investigations.
It has also announced steps to improve the recruitment system.
However, 342 successful candidates have gone to the Jharkhand High Court to challenge the cancellation of their exams.
They say the government has not shown enough evidence to justify cancelling them.
Jharkhand Opposition Leader Babulal Marandi urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to transfer investigations into recruitment exam irregularities to the CBI.
Marandi called the CID investigation into the JSSC-CGL examination flawed and questioned allegations of evidence suppression and candidate extortion.
He sought an independent investigation into alleged interference with interview boards and coding procedures in the 11th to 13th JPSC Civil Services examinations.
The state has cancelled multiple JPSC and JSSC examinations after complaints and CID/SIT investigations, while announcing measures to restore confidence.
A group of 342 successful JPSC candidates has approached the Jharkhand High Court challenging the cancellation, saying no concrete evidence was presented.
- Who
- Babulal Marandi, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand government, recruitment candidates, and agencies including the CID, SIT, and CBI.
- What
- Marandi demanded independent or CBI investigations into alleged irregularities in JSSC-CGL and 11th to 13th JPSC Civil Services examinations.
- When
- The demands followed the cancellation of multiple recruitment examinations; the articles do not provide a specific date for Marandi's letter.
- Where
- Jharkhand, with the candidates' challenge filed in the Jharkhand High Court.
- Why
- Marandi said the CID investigation lacked credibility and candidates had lost confidence in the state's recruitment and investigation systems.
Calls for Independent Probe
State Process and Cancellation Challenge
Who should investigate?
Calls for Independent Probe
Marandi argues that the CID has lost candidates' trust and wants the CBI or another independent central agency to investigate.
State Process and Cancellation Challenge
The state government has assigned investigations to the CID/SIT and announced measures intended to address irregularities and restore confidence.
Whether cancellations were justified
Calls for Independent Probe
Marandi says complaints and alleged irregularities require a thorough investigation before responsible officials and intermediaries can be held accountable.
State Process and Cancellation Challenge
The 342 petitioners argue that the JPSC examinations were cancelled without concrete information, evidence, or a completed investigation justifying the decision.
Extent of the problem
Calls for Independent Probe
Marandi describes the issue as affecting the future of lakhs of Jharkhand youths and the credibility of recruitment institutions.
State Process and Cancellation Challenge
The government has treated the matter through cancellations and announced reforms, while the candidates' court petition focuses on protecting the validity of their examination results.
- Main demand
- Transfer investigations into the JSSC-CGL and JPSC examinations to the CBI or another independent central agency.
- Examinations cited
- JSSC-CGL and the 11th to 13th JPSC Combined Civil Services examinations.
- State action
- The government released a list of 44 JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations cancelled after complaints and CID/SIT investigations.
- Candidate challenge
- 342 successful candidates approached the Jharkhand High Court against cancellation of the 11th to 13th JPSC examinations.
- Alleged interview issue
- Marandi cited claims that individuals attempted to influence or fix interview boards and decode codes to direct candidates to particular boards.
- Investigation scope requested
- Marandi called for examination of interview-board formation, candidate allocation, marks, digital records, call details, financial transactions, and officials' roles.
- Reported discrepancy
- Marandi referred to investigations involving 22 cancelled examinations and 17 examinations, results, and appointments under suspicion, while another passage refers to 23 freshly cancelled examinations.