Uttar Pradesh constable recruitment exam sees 7.32 lakh candidates, several arrested for cheating and impersonation

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) on Tuesday said that the second day of the written examination for direct recruitment to the posts of Constable Civil Police and equivalent categories was conducted successfully across the state amid extensive security and surveillance arrangements.

The examination was held in two shifts at 1,183 examination centres spread across 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. According to the board, the examination concluded peacefully and in an orderly manner without any major disruption.

Over 7.32 lakh candidates appeared

A total of 9,62,833 candidates had been called to appear for the examination in both shifts on June 9. Of them, 7,32,731 candidates appeared, registering an attendance of 76.10 per cent, while the remaining candidates remained absent.

The recruitment board said strict monitoring was carried out at examination centres and on various social media platforms to ensure transparency and prevent unfair practices.

Candidate arrested in Hardoi for possessing mobile phone and study material

In Hardoi district, a candidate identified as Rohit Pathauri, a resident of Agra district, was found carrying a concealed mobile phone and question papers from previous competitive examinations allegedly with the intention of cheating during the test.

The incident was detected at Beni Madhav Vidyapeeth Inter College examination centre. Following the recovery, an FIR was registered at Kotwali City police station under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and the Information Technology Act. The accused was arrested and further legal action is underway.

Impersonator, accomplice held in Aligarh

In a major case of examination fraud, authorities caught a candidate allegedly appearing in the examination using forged identity documents at Dharam Samaj Mahavidyalaya examination centre in Aligarh. The accused, identified as Shyam Sundar, a resident of Dholpur district in Rajasthan, allegedly used a forged Aadhaar card and appeared in place of another candidate, Hargovind.

The impersonation came to light during verification checks conducted by examination officials. Police registered a case at Quarsi police station and arrested both the impersonator and his alleged accomplice, Mauji Gupta. They have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination Act.

Another impersonation bid foiled in Muzaffarnagar

In a similar incident, officials at DAV Inter College, Muzaffarnagar, detected another impersonation attempt during the examination. Police said Gajendra Sharma, son of Trilok Chandra Sharma, allegedly appeared in the examination using a forged Aadhaar card in the name of candidate Yuvank Sharma.

The fraud was detected during scrutiny and verification. An FIR was registered at Civil Lines police station in Muzaffarnagar under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the accused was arrested.

Candidate caught carrying electronic device in Kanpur

At Siddiqui Faiz-e-Aam Inter College, Makhania, Kanpur, examination staff intercepted a candidate during frisking before the commencement of the second shift. The candidate, identified as Pankaj Verma, a resident of Jhansi district, was allegedly attempting to carry an electronic gadget inside the examination centre. Authorities detained him for questioning and initiated legal proceedings.

Instagram user arrested for misleading recruitment-related posts

Apart from examination-related offences, the recruitment board also acted against individuals allegedly spreading misinformation regarding the recruitment process on social media. An FIR had earlier been registered at Kotwali police station in Azamgarh against an Instagram account operating under the username "inderjeet_gautam_007" for allegedly posting misleading and factually incorrect videos related to the recruitment examination.

Following investigation, police arrested Inderjeet, son of Brahmanand and a resident of Kharpadi village in Amroha district. He has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.

Recruitment board issues warning

The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board reiterated its commitment to conducting a fair, transparent and cheating-free recruitment process. Officials said that any attempt to use unfair means, impersonate candidates, circulate false information, or disrupt the examination process would invite stringent legal action.

The board advised candidates to remain vigilant against rumours, fraudulent intermediaries and misleading social media content. Aspirants were urged to rely only on official information released by the board and focus on their preparation rather than falling prey to misinformation. Authorities said surveillance of examination centres, digital platforms and suspicious activities would continue throughout the recruitment process to ensure its integrity and credibility.