Two booked for alleged cheating in IIT Goa recruitment exam, Bluetooth devices seized

Two men were booked for alleged examination malpractice linked to the recruitment of non-teaching staff at IIT Goa after CISF personnel recovered Bluetooth earpieces, electronic devices, and other materials from their hand baggage at Dabolim airport.

In Short

• Two men caught with Bluetooth earpieces at Dabolim airport linked to IIT Goa exam cheating
• First man admitted to appearing for another candidate in the exam
• Second man offloaded from flight and both booked by police for malpractice

Two persons have been booked for alleged examination malpractice linked to the recruitment of non-teaching staff at IIT Goa after they were allegedly caught with Bluetooth earpieces at Dabolim airport, a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer said on Sunday.

The two men were travelling to Delhi when CISF personnel allegedly recovered electronic devices and other materials suspected to be linked to cheating in competitive examinations. Both allegedly admitted that the Bluetooth devices were intended for use in the examination.

CISF PERSONNEL RECOVER BLUETOOTH EARPIECES AT AIRPORT

One of the passengers was undergoing security checks at Dabolim airport around noon on Saturday when a CISF screener noticed suspicious objects in his hand baggage. The bag was referred for a physical check, which led to the recovery of three electronic devices, two SIM cards and three Bluetooth earpieces allegedly used for cheating in competitive examinations, the officer said.

According to the officer, the passenger admitted that the devices were meant for examination malpractice. He also informed security personnel that an associate travelling with him had already boarded the same Air India Express flight to Delhi.

The second passenger was subsequently offloaded with the help of airline staff. A search of his hand baggage led to the recovery of two Bluetooth earpieces, a SIM card and an admit card for the post of Administrative Assistant in the IIT Goa non-teaching staff recruitment examination held on October 10.

The second passenger also allegedly admitted that the Bluetooth device was intended for use in the examination, the officer said.

FIRST PASSENGER ALLEGEDLY APPEARED FOR ANOTHER CANDIDATE

The two men were subjected to joint interrogation by intelligence and security agencies before being handed over to the Dabolim airport police station.

Since the examination centre fell under the jurisdiction of the Ponda police station, the two were booked by the police in the area, the officer said.

The officer further claimed that the first passenger told CISF personnel that he had appeared for the examination in place of another candidate.

Aadhaar cards belonging to two other individuals were also recovered from the airport's security hold area. The passenger had allegedly thrown them away there, according to the officer.

CISF CREDITS ALERT SCREENING FOR DETECTION

The CISF officer said the alertness of the screening personnel helped detect the devices and prevent the two passengers from leaving Goa with material linked to the alleged examination malpractice.

The police have booked the two persons in connection with the alleged examination malpractice linked to the IIT Goa recruitment examination.

(With PTI inputs)

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