How Was the Punjab Pharmacy Officer Recruitment Exam Cheating Racket Busted?
Punjab Police detained 35 people, including seven alleged organisers, after busting an inter-state cheating network that used hidden pen cameras and wireless devices during the Pharmacy Officer Recruitment Examination.
Punjab Police have busted an inter-state cheating network that allegedly helped candidates during the Pharmacy Officer Recruitment Examination held on Sunday, detaining 35 people, including seven alleged organisers and 28 candidates. Officials said the group used hidden electronic devices and live communication to send answers to candidates during the examination conducted at centres in Faridkot and Ferozepur.
According to police, 27 battery-operated wireless micro devices have been recovered during the investigation. A candidate identified as Ayush, who appeared for the examination in Ferozepur, allegedly used a hidden pen camera to photograph the question paper. The images were reportedly sent via WhatsApp to Sajan in Bhiwani, Haryana. NEET Paper Leak Case: CBI Raids Suspected Candidates’ Residences in Maharashtra’s Nanded, Scrutinises Links to Exam Racket.
Punjab Pharmacy Officer Recruitment Exam Cheating Case: 35 Detained
Punjab busts exam cheating racket, 35 detained!
Punjab Police detained 35 people, including seven alleged organisers, in an inter-state cheating network that helped candidates during Sunday's Pharmacy Officer Recruitment Exam, held at centres in Faridkot & Ferozepur… pic.twitter.com/3SojY3ihtq
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Investigators said Sajan forwarded the question paper to Deepak, who was operating from a temporary control room set up inside a house in Society Nagar, Faridkot. Deepak and another accused, Manjit Singh, allegedly relayed answers to candidates inside examination centres through wireless communication devices in real time. NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam: Dharmendra Pradhan Holds High-Level Security Meeting, Orders Crackdown on Fake Telegram Channels.
Punjab Police identified Gurmeet Singh, an employee of Sant Kabir Polytechnic College in Fazilka, as the alleged mastermind of the operation. According to officials, the network charged candidates between INR 3.5 lakh and INR 13 lakh with the promise of helping them clear the examination. Some candidates had also provided post-dated cheques as security.
Police said the operation was carefully planned. On the morning of the examination, members of the network allegedly met at a hotel on the Faridkot-Kotkapura Road and distributed wireless devices to candidates before they entered the examination centres.
Apart from the 28 candidates detained from Faridkot and Ferozepur, seven suspected members of the network from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan have also been taken into custody. Raids are continuing to trace and arrest other accused linked to the case.
Investigators said there is no evidence so far of a question paper leak or the involvement of examination officials. According to the probe, the cheating took place only after the examination had started, with answers being transmitted to candidates in real time.
An FIR is being registered under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. The investigation is underway.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2026 11:09 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
