JPSC ex-chairman L Khiangte arrested amid protests over paper leak

Former JPSC chairman L Khiangte has been arrested by the state CID amid protests over an alleged paper leak. He faced questioning over the empanelment of blacklisted company TDPL for the 14th Civil Services Examination.

In Short

• Former JPSC chairman L Khiangte arrested by Jharkhand CID over 14th Civil Services Exam allegations
• Khiangte questioned on empanelment of blacklisted firm TDPL for exam conduct
• JSSC CGL aspirants protest across Jharkhand demanding transparency and probe

Former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) chairman L Khiangte has been arrested by the state CID in connection with allegations surrounding the commission's 14th Civil Services Examination.

Khiangte was facing questions over why TDPL, a blacklisted company, was empanelled to conduct the JPSC 14th Civil Services Examination.

Khiangte, who also served as the former Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, resigned from his post as JPSC chairman on July 22, 2026. He had stated that his resignation was intended to ensure a fair investigation into the matter.

Before his arrest, Khiangte had faced multiple rounds of intensive questioning by the state CID. The questioning reportedly lasted several hours as investigators examined the allegations linked to the examination process.

The CID has now arrested the former JPSC chairman as part of its investigation into the matter.

ABOUT JSSC CGL PROTEST

Jharkhand has witnessed large-scale protests by JSSC CGL aspirants over alleged irregularities in the recruitment process. Students across Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Bokaro and other districts have taken to the streets, demanding transparency, accountability and an independent probe into the examination.

The agitation has intensified over allegations of question paper leaks, leaked OMR sheets and manipulation in the evaluation process. While the state government has opened channels for dialogue, it has not agreed to cancel the JSSC CGL examination, making the issue a major political and administrative flashpoint in Jharkhand.

7 major developments from today's protest:

1. Police lathicharge protesters: Police resorted to lathicharge as JPSC-JSSC aspirants moved closer to the Jharkhand Assembly. Some protesters were reportedly injured.
2. Barricades breached, water cannons deployed: Protesters broke through multiple police barricades while marching from the Old Assembly towards the New Assembly. Security forces used water cannons to stop them.
3. Devendra Nath Mahto joins march on stretcher: Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a nine-day hunger strike, joined the Assembly march after arriving in an ambulance and was carried on a stretcher.
4. Government says most demands accepted: Jharkhand Minister Deepika Pandey Singh said the government had accepted nearly all demands within its powers and was willing to have the probe into alleged irregularities conducted under judicial monitoring.
5. JSSC-CGL cancellation remains a key sticking point: The government said it cannot unilaterally cancel the JSSC-CGL examination because the matter is linked to judicial directives.
6. Jairam Mahato backs protesting students: JLKM MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato met the protesters and said he would raise their concerns inside and outside the Assembly. He also urged police to cooperate with the students.
7. Babulal Marandi demands CBI probe: Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi accused the Jharkhand government of failing to address the students’ concerns and demanded a CBI investigation into the alleged JPSC-JSSC examination irregularities.

- Ends