Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate registered an Enforcement Case Information Report under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on Monday to initiate a probe into alleged financial irregularities surrounding recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission. The federal agency initiated the financial investigation based on a First Information Report previously lodged by the state’s Criminal Investigation Department. Investigators from the agency’s Ranchi unit are expected to examine potential money trails, financial records, and bank transactions to determine whether illicit proceeds were generated or routed through unauthorized channels during the examination process.
The development coincides with widespread protests led by student groups demanding accountability and transparency across state-conducted competitive tests. Although the Hemant Soren-led state government agreed to several key student demands on Sunday—including the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination and backlog recruitment tests—it declined to cancel the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level examination. State Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu stated that the government could not unilaterally cancel tests conducted under judicial directions, asserting that most student concerns had been addressed.
Agitating student groups rejected the government’s proposal and proceeded with a scheduled march toward the state Legislative Assembly on Monday, maintaining their demand for a comprehensive Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry. The ongoing controversy has also led to administrative shifts within the commission, following the recent resignations of three serving JPSC members. As state authorities continue their CID inquiry into vendor empanelment processes, the Enforcement Directorate’s parallel investigation will focus specifically on establishing financial accountability and tracing any monetary exchanges associated with the examination irregularities.
