The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan has arrested Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) Nagesh Kumar Yadav, 32, in connection with the SI Recruitment Examination-2021 paper leak case. The accused, who had been absconding for an extended period, was arrested from Sikar. A reward of Rs 10,000 had been announced for information leading to his arrest.
According to investigating agencies, Nagesh Kumar Yadav purchased the leaked examination paper for Rs 7.50 lakh to help his brother clear the Sub-Inspector recruitment examination. Several accused have already been arrested in the case, and the investigation remains ongoing.
According to SOG Additional Director General Vishal Bansal, the case is linked to an organised paper leak network. The investigation found that the accused arranged the leaked question paper and answer key for his brother, Surjeet Singh Yadav, to help him pass the SI recruitment examination.
Surjeet Singh Yadav reportedly scored 190.79 out of 200 marks in Hindi and 158.27 out of 200 marks in General Knowledge. Based on these scores, he secured the 18th position in the merit list and was selected for the post of Sub-Inspector.
Subsequent investigation, however, found that the result had allegedly been obtained using a leaked question paper accessed before the examination.
Investigating agencies said the case forms part of a paper leak network linked to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC). Preliminary findings indicated that the question paper and answers were allegedly obtained from former RPSC member Babulal Katara.
The material was subsequently routed through Kundan Kumar Pandya and then passed on to Sandeep Kumar Lata and Purushottam Dadhich. At the time, Purushottam Dadhich was serving as an Assistant Accounts Officer in the Local Fund Audit Department in Udaipur.
Investigators said members of the same network later supplied the paper to other accused persons, with Nagesh Kumar Yadav emerging as a key name during the probe.
The SOG investigation has also found that the leaked question paper and answer key were shared through WhatsApp. Investigators allege that Nagesh Kumar Yadav provided the material to his brother before the examination, enabling him to gain an unfair advantage.
According to investigating agencies, the network used digital platforms to facilitate the leak, making detection more challenging.
At the time of the incident, Nagesh Kumar Yadav was posted as Assistant Accounts Officer-II at Panchayat Samiti Ajitgarh in Sikar district. After the case surfaced, he allegedly remained absent from duty and went into hiding.
Following a prolonged search, the SOG arrested him with assistance from Sikar Police. His brother, Surjeet Singh Yadav, had earlier been arrested on October 9, 2024. Another accused linked to the network, Purushottam Dadhich, was arrested on June 2, 2025.
According to the SOG, a total of 144 accused have been arrested so far in the Rajasthan SI Recruitment Examination-2021 paper leak case. The investigation is continuing.
Investigators are also examining the possible involvement of additional individuals in the network and seeking to determine how many candidates may have obtained unfair advantages through the alleged leak.
