MP: Rigging in PMT was going on for over a decade

For how long the Pre-Medical Test (PMT) in Madhya Pradesh was being manipulated? The question has come to fore with the arrest of Alok Kumar alias Pintu, a middle-man who was arrested recently for his alleged involvement in the Professional Examination Board (PEB) scam.

Alok, 38, was wanted in connection with getting candidates clear the recruitment exam for forest guards. However, when he was recently arrested and quizzed, Alok revealed that he was involved in getting ineligible candidates pass the PMT as early as in 2004, said sources in the Special Task Force (STF).

The PEB used to conduct the PMT. While the STF is investigating rigging in the PMT in 2013 and 2012, it seems rackets were active from 2007-08. In fact, Alok's revelations suggest that the manipulation was going on for much longer time.

Alok was arrested for getting a candidate crack the examination though the latter hadn't appeared in the recruitment exam.

In place, a "scorer" was made to appear in the examination.

Later, when the STF arrested Dharm Pal, the candidate, and the "scorer", Rajesh, they found that Alok was the middle-man who had arranged it. The deal was struck for R1 lakh.

"Alok hails from Bihar. He has been wanted in several cases in Hoshangabad, Gwalior and other districts of the state too," said an STF official on condition of anonymity.

"During quizzing, it was revealed that Alok has got admissions in MBBS by getting candidates appear in the PMT through similar modus operandi, as early as in 2004," the officer added.

Alok was arrested and has been sent to judicial custody.