Patna: Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) has cancelled the sub-inspector recruitment (main) written examination held on May 27, 2026, amid investigations into alleged irregularities at examination centres in Purnia and Gaya. The commission said on Wednesday that a fresh examination date would be announced separately.The exam was held in two shifts for recruitment to 1,799 SI posts. Around three months later, BPSSC declared the mains result and shortlisted 10,759 candidates for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET).The cancellation follows complaints from candidates and probes into alleged malpractice. In Purnia, a photograph purportedly showing the question paper surfaced on social media after the exam. Police arrested contractual computer teacher Mrityunjay Kumar in connection with the case. According to the investigation, he allegedly photographed the paper after the exam and sent it to a relative. Economic Offences Unit (EOU), which took up the matter, received photographs of the question paper/booklet and sought clarification from BPSSC on their authenticity and source.Investigators are examining whether the images are genuine and, if so, when and where they were captured. The probe is also looking into allegations that question papers meant for absent candidates were taken to a storeroom on the pretext of sealing them, photographed and allegedly circulated. Investigators have also examined allegations that the accused teacher attempted to destroy digital evidence by factory-resetting his mobile phone. The device has been sent for forensic examination.Meanwhile, EOU arrested contractual computer teacher Virendra Kumar in connection with an FIR registered at Rampur police station in Gaya on May 27 over allegations that a solver gang helped candidates write answers using Bluetooth devices and other electronic equipment. The case was taken over by an EOU Special Investigation Team (SIT) on August 28.EOU ADG Manavjit Singh Dhillon said, “During the investigation, EOU arrested Virendra Kumar, son of Suresh Yadav, a resident of Bada village under Manpur police station in Gaya, on Sept 22. He was taken into custody and questioned in connection with the case.”Virendra had worked as a contractual computer teacher at Gaya College since 2025 and was on examination duty on May 27. After complaints that question-paper photographs appeared on social media while the exam was underway, investigators traced a viral image to Gaya College centre and examined CCTV footage, technical evidence and documents from BPSSC.EOU said the paper in the viral image was allotted to room No. 49, whose candidate was absent. The second shift began at 2:30 pm and, around 10 minutes later, Virendra allegedly collected papers from different rooms and, with the assistance of biometric personnel, photographed them. The images were allegedly supplied to a solver gang under a pre-planned conspiracy for an initial payment of Rs 1 lakh.The investigation also found that Virendra had been associated since 2021 with a New Delhi-based company. “Through his association with the company and his duties as a chief invigilator in several online examinations, Virendra had also been involved in unauthorised arrangements for candidates during examinations. The alleged activities came to light during his interrogation and examination of digital evidence,” DIG added.EOU is examining complaints and evidence from other districts to determine whether the irregularities were confined to particular centres or indicate a wider pattern. BPSSC, however, has not accepted the claim of a generalised paper leak and has maintained that the photograph in question was taken after the examination had concluded.
