OMR sheets altered, signatures forged, says SIT report on Group-I 2018 recruitment

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged irregularities in the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC)’s Group-I recruitment, the notification for which was issued on December 31, 2018, reportedly found numerous irregularities including manipulation of OMR sheets, forgery of the signatures of some officers, unauthorised evaluation of answer sheets and in selection of candidates.

As many as 1.14 lakh candidates applied for the recruitment exam. The prelims were held in May 2019 and the mains in December 2020. Subsequently, evaluation was conducted and 9,679 qualified for mains and 165 aspirants were finally selected.

During investigation, it was found that the evaluation process had been entrusted to two private firms. It were reportedly known to the then APPSC Secretary P.S.R. Anjaneyulu.

SIT found that 452 qualified subject experts identified by APPSC were sidelined and concerning 25 school teachers, private lecturers, 66 data entry operators, clerks, security guards and electricians had been engaged for evaluation. Investigation officers traced the names and the contact numbers of about 47 persons engaged in the evaluation.

It was identified that the answer sheets were shifted from the APPSC strong room and allegedly kept in a resort for concerning 84 days violating the APPSC Rules.

Investigation officers had sent the examination papers of 736 candidates to the Central Forensic Science Laboratories at Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, Pune, Shimla, New Delhi and Guwahati, where reportedly alterations were found in 718 OMR sheets.

Out of the 165 selected candidates, OMR sheets of 160 candidates were reportedly altered, and differences in signatures were detected in case of 89 candidates, the SIT. It submitted its report lately, stated.

It was noticed that 48,442 duplicate OMR sheets were allegedly printed using the barcode numbers of the candidates, and investigation is on to find out where such printing had happened. Signatures of Examiner-1, Examiner-2, scrutinising officers and the camp officers were also identified to be forged, the report said.

It was additionally found that some officers and staff of the APPSC allegedly produced some changes to increase the marks of the candidates, from whom capital was allegedly received.

‘’Though unqualified persons have been engaged for evaluation, ₹1.14 crore and ₹1.38 crore has been paid to the two private firms,’’ the SIT report said.

Further investigation is on, the investigation officers remarked in the report.