The Chhattisgarh government has annulled the recruitment process for police constables in Rajnandgaon district following allegations of irregularities and has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
State Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, also holding the Home portfolio, issued the directive to cancel the process on Wednesday.
“Irregularities came to light in the ongoing recruitment process in the 8th Battalion of Rajnandgaon,” the official said, adding that a case was registered on 17 December at the Lal Bagh police station.
The recruitment process, underway since 16 November, included candidates from Rajnandgaon, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, Kabirdham (Kawardha), and Mohla-Manpur-Ambagadh Chowki districts.
To date, seven individuals, including four constables, two employees of an event management company, and a female candidate, have been arrested in connection with the alleged malpractices.
Amid the investigation, constable Anil Ratnakar, posted on marshal duty, allegedly committed suicide in Rampur village on 21 December.
A note inscribed on his hand suggested employees were being blamed while officers were shielded.
The Rajnandgaon Range Inspector General of Police, Deepak Jha, has set up an SIT to probe the suicide and mandated a report within ten days.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg transferred the investigation into the recruitment irregularities to Rajnandgaon City Superintendent of Police Pushpendra Nayak.
Garg noted that an official cancellation order for the District Police Force Constable Cadre Selection Examination 2023-24 from the state government had not yet been received.
Former Chief Minister and Assembly Speaker Raman Singh commended the government’s decision.
“On Good Governance Day, Home Minister Shri @vijaysharmacg took a commendable decision to cancel the entire recruitment by taking immediate cognisance of the Rajnandgaon Police Recruitment case,” Singh remarked on X.
The CM has also directed an impartial SIT investigation into the matter, Singh added, reaffirming that negligence or corruption will not be tolerated in the administration.
Irregularities included tampering with marks obtained by candidates in the physical efficiency test, revealed through an internal investigation by the Rajnandgaon police, an official stated. Following this, an FIR was lodged at the Lal Bagh police station.
The opposition Congress, led by State Congress President Deepak Baij and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has criticised the BJP-led state government under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai for the alleged recruitment fraud.
They earlier demanded both the cancellation of the recruitment process and stringent action against those responsible.
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