BENGALURU: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Bangalore, has officially registered a Regular Case (FIR) to investigate a massive question paper leak involving recruitment for the South Western Railways (SWR). The FIR, filed on February 10, 2026, names 21 individuals and entities, including several railway employees and prominent private examination firms .
The Recruitment Fraud
The case centers on the General Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE) held on September 4, 2022, for 147 posts of Goods Train Manager (GTM). The examination, which was intended for regular serving employees of SWR and the Rail Wheel Factory, was a computer-based test conducted in eight languages.
According to the complaint filed by Shri A. Ramachandra, Deputy Chief Vigilance Officer of SWR, the recruitment process was compromised well before the exam date.
Investigation Revelations: WhatsApp and Cash Transfers
A preliminary probe by the SWR Vigilance Department uncovered a systematic conspiracy to leak the paper:
- The Travel: Candidates, including Bhawesh Kumar and others, reportedly traveled to an unknown destination on September 3, 2022—the eve of the exam—where they were provided with the questions.
- WhatsApp Leak: Bhawesh Kumar allegedly shared 17 questions and answers via WhatsApp with another candidate, Rajib Shil, shortly before the test began. These questions were later confirmed to match the actual exam paper.
- Financial Transactions: Multiple candidates and railway officials allegedly paid approximately ₹50,000 each to an account held by a private individual, Rajkumar Singh of Patna. Some payments were made via a QR code shared through WhatsApp.
- Mediators: Several senior railway employees, including Senior Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerks (CCTC), were identified as mediators who lured candidates and facilitated the suspicious transactions.
Private Firms Under the Scanner
The CBI has named M/s MEL Training & Assessments Ltd. and its parent company, M/s Aptech Ltd., as accused in the FIR. MEL Training was the appointed Exam Conducting Agency (ECA) for the recruitment. The investigation found that Aptech was also closely associated with the conduct of the examination, specifically regarding the handling and translation of the question papers.
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Legal Action and Charges
The FIR was registered following formal consent from the Government of Karnataka in November 2025 and a subsequent notification from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in February 2026.
The accused are facing charges under the following sections:
- Section 120-B IPC: Criminal Conspiracy
- Section 420 IPC: Cheating
- Section 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act (as amended in 2018): Relating to undue advantage to a public servant for improper performance of duty.
The investigation has been handed over to Inspector Manoj Kumar Tripathi of the CBI, ACB Bangalore.
