CBI files FIR in SSC paper leak, raids 12 locations
New Delhi, May 23: Three months after leak of a paper of recruitment examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the CBI registered an FIR and conducted raids on Wednesday at multiple locations across the country, an official said.
The agency raided 12 locations, including offices of Sify Technologies Ltd, which was entrusted with holding the Combined Graduate Level (Tier II) exam, in Noida. Raids were also conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Shimla, Jaipur and Patna.
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official said that "the decision was taken after investigators found enough material".
The agency registered a preliminary inquiry in March to probe the paper leak, based on references from the Central government.
The SSC, which conducts examinations for subordinate services, had recommended a CBI inquiry into the paper leak in the examination held from February 17 to 22, which triggered widespread protests.
The SSC later decided not to declare the results till the CBI completed its probe.
The CBI FIR named 17 private persons, including head of the content team of Sify Technologies Ltd, as well as some unidentified officials of the SSC for their role in the paper leak.
They were booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The question paper was leaked 20 minutes before the examination.
"It was alleged that computers of some candidates were remotely accessed by unidentified persons with the help of a software which was not supposed to be installed in the PCs. These candidates were helped by these persons in answering the questions. The screenshots of some questions were leaked in the social media and went viral.
"The answer keys of the Quantitative Ability (QA) examination on February 21 were found in the social media at 10.10 a.m., even as the examination was scheduled to be held at 10.30 a.m. that day," the CBI said.
In March, Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force and Delhi Police Crime Branch busted a gang involved in the case and arrested four persons who helped candidates cheat with the help of online app "Team Viewer".
A large number of candidates had staged protests outside the SSC office at the CGO Complex here for several days seeking a CBI probe.
Nearly 30.26 lakh candidates had registered for the Combined Graduate Level Examination, conducted to fill about 8,000 vacancies in 35 ministries and departments.
While about 15.43 lakh candidates appeared in the Tier-I exam in August 2017, about 1.89 lakh candidates were shortlisted for the Tier-II exam. Of these, 1.41 lakh candidates appeared in the exam, conducted at 206 venues in 68 cities.
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Delhi's air remains hazardous, SC raps officials for 'serious lapse' in ensuring GRAP-4 curbs
New Delhi, Nov 25: Delhi's air pollution levels remained alarming on Monday, with the capital's 24-hour average AQI reading soaring to 349 from 318 the previous day, even as the Supreme Court slammed the city government and police for a "serious lapse" in implementing GRAP curbs.
The apex court, however, asked the central pollution watchdog to consider restarting physical classes in the schools and colleges of Delhi-NCR, noting that students are being deprived of mid-day meals and lack the wherewithal to attend virtual classes.
According to the SAMEER app, which offers hourly updates on the National Air Quality Index, the AQI was recorded at 218 at 9 am, but it rose to 377 at 7 pm, thanks to a low wind speed.
Seven of the 38 air quality-monitoring stations in Delhi reported AQI levels in the "severe" category at 5:30 pm, with the number rising to 14 at 7 pm.
The latest data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said Delhi's 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm, stood at 349.
Bhavreen Kandhari, an environmentalist, said the AQI has risen due to a combination of stagnant winds that have a speed of less than 10 kilometres per hour and dropping temperatures that trap pollutants close to the ground.
The CPCB categorises the AQI as follows -- 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), 401-450 (severe) and above 450 (severe plus).
Last week, the city endured its highest recorded AQI for the season, reaching a hazardous 495, prompting the implementation of the Stage-4 restrictions under the Supreme Court-mandated Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to curb pollution.
On Monday, the primary pollutant contributing to the deteriorating air quality was PM2.5, with levels recorded at 166.9 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 pm.
These fine particulate matters with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, pose severe health risks as these can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
The drop in the air quality follows a week of hazardous levels of pollution, with Delhi's AQI surpassing 450 for the first time this season last Sunday morning.
Although the air quality improved slightly on Thursday and Friday, it worsened again on Saturday, with the AQI returning to the "severe" category.
As evening descended on Monday, a thick layer of mist and smog covered the city, reducing visibility and exacerbating the air-quality crisis.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider restarting physical classes in schools and colleges in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas, noting that students are being deprived of mid-day meals and lack the wherewithal to attend virtual classes.
The restrictions on physical classes in schools and colleges were imposed recently due to severe air pollution.
The court censured the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and Delhi Police for a "serious lapse" on their part in strictly implementing the GRAP-4 measures, and directed the CAQM to take action against the erring officials.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said the authorities have made no efforts to implement the GRAP-4 measures.
"It is apparent that the authorities mentioned in GRAP-IV clauses 1, 2 and 3 have made no earnest efforts to implement action under clauses 1 to 3. Some police teams were deputed at a few entry points, that also without any specific instructions," it said.
The Centre's Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management estimated that vehicular emissions contributed 16.4 per cent to Delhi's pollution on Monday. Stubble burning, another major factor, accounted for 11 per cent of the capital's pollution on Sunday.
The DSS provides daily estimates for vehicular emissions, while the data on stubble burning is typically released the following day.
Meanwhile, the daytime temperature was recorded at 25.8 degrees Celsius, 0.9 notches below the seasonal average, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Humidity levels fluctuated between 85 per cent and 68 per cent during the day.
The IMD has forecast moderate fog for Tuesday, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to hover around 26 degrees Celsius and 12 degrees Celsius respectively.
