The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a money-laundering case to investigate alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations, as protests and an indefinite hunger strike in Ranchi against them entered the 17th day on Monday, people familiar with the matter said.
Officials said the ED may take custody of those arrested in the case and interrogate them. The federal financial crimes probe agency’s case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stems from the Jharkhand Police’s first information report.
On Monday, thousands of job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities marched to the Jharkhand assembly. Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days, joined the march in an ambulance. The protesters carried tricolour, placards and raised slogans in support of their demands.
The authorities imposed prohibitory orders and deployed over 1,500 Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, police and Quick Reaction Team personnel along the four-km stretch of the march. Most Ranchi schools were closed.
The deadlock has continued even as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led state government held several rounds of talks with the demonstrators. The government said it had accepted 98% of the demands. Protesters said they will continue as the government agreed to cancel only three of the 13 exams they sought to be scrapped.
The demonstrators are demanding JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission reforms, cancellation of recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand Civil Services Examination, and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities. The protesters are insisting on a probe by the federal Central Bureau of Investigation or by a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.
{{/usCountry}}The demonstrators are demanding JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission reforms, cancellation of recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand Civil Services Examination, and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities. The protesters are insisting on a probe by the federal Central Bureau of Investigation or by a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.
{{/usCountry}}All three JPSC members, Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad, resigned on Sunday after the Jharkhand Police’s Criminal Investigation Department summoned them for questioning over alleged irregularities, including paper leaks.