Chhattisgarh Government Cancels Rajnandgaon Police Recruitment Amid Scandal and Suicide Case
Raipur
The Chhattisgarh government has cancelled the Rajnandgaon police constable recruitment process following allegations of irregularities and the suicide of a constable. The decision was made by Home Minister Vijay Sharma under the directive of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Additionally, Durg IG Deepak Kumar Jha has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter, with a report expected within 10 days. Reports suggested that the marks of approximately 3,000 candidates were entered incorrectly with malicious intention.
Seven individuals, including one candidate and four constables, have been arrested in connection with the case. Authorities are examining WhatsApp messages and mobile data from the suspects. Meanwhile, the Congress party has alleged that the whistleblower who reported the irregularities has been unjustly jailed, accusing the government of corruption and selling out the rights of youth.
A key revelation in the case was the suicide of Constable Anil Ratnakar (25), whose body was found hanging from a tree near Rampur Road in the Lalbagh police station area on December 21. Ratnakar, stationed in Khairagarh police, was involved in monitoring the recruitment process. A suicide note written on his palm stated, “The constable is being framed in the recruitment scam while the officers are being shielded. Everyone is involved.”
November 16, 2024: The recruitment process for 528 police constable positions in Rajnandgaon began.
December 16, 2024: An FIR was filed against unknown accused for discrepancies in marks during the physical tests.
December 21, 2024: Constable Anil Ratnakar’s suicide exposed further irregularities.
\Data Entry Discrepancies
The recruitment process, managed by an event company from Hyderabad, revealed inconsistencies in data entries. There were significant mismatches between manually recorded scores and those entered by the company, as well as discrepancies in event timings. Efforts to retrieve accurate data are ongoing but have yet to yield results.
\Key Arrests and Accused
Among the arrested are Kavardha candidate Meena Patre and four constables—Paridhi Nishad, Pawan Kumar Sahu, Yogesh Kumar Dhurve, and Nuteshwari Dhurve. Additional suspects include 10-12 police personnel and staff from the Hyderabad-based event company, whose roles are under scrutiny.
\Higher-Level Connections Suspected
Allegations suggest the involvement of a politically connected individual, who has served as a representative of former MPs. Their WhatsApp and mobile records are being investigated. The recruitment process was centrally managed by Hyderabad’s Timing Technology, which handled similar processes across the state.
\Congress Demands Judicial Inquiry
Congress communications chief Sushil Anand Shukla criticized the cancellation of the recruitment process, stating it was an admission of irregularities. He demanded a CBI probe and a judicial inquiry under the supervision of a High Court judge to ensure accountability and stringent action against those responsible.
The scandal has raised serious concerns about the integrity of recruitment processes, highlighting the need for transparent and accountable mechanisms.
