CSIR NET document leak: Gang uses remote access software to commit fraud, 7 arrested

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested seven people from Meerut who were allegedly part of a ‘solver gang’ that helped candidates in the CSIR NET exam held on Friday. The probe team found that the accused were using remote access software to help candidates during the exam and also charging them hefty fees.

Based on a tip-off, the investigation team raided the computer lab of the Faculty of Law of Subharti University, a private college in Meerut, during the online examination of CSIR NET, a qualifying exam for assistant professors in science.

The accused include four candidates, namely Ankit, Tamanna, Monica Kumar and Jyoti, along with two university officials, Vineet Kumar, who was an assistant in the computer lab, and Arun Sharma, who was the head of the IT department.

The second accused in the case, Ankur Saini, was part of the NSEIT team that conducted the investigation. Ankur was sent as a server operator to the university.

One laptop, five processors, two portable USB drives, two admit cards for the CSIR NET exam, four mobile phones and other documents, including three Aadhar cards and two PAN cards, were seized from the centre.

MODE OF OPERATION

The STF found that IT manager Arun Sharma had an unauthorized processor in his room, which was modified and connected to the exam lab network. The server details of the candidates involved in the scam were extracted with the help of Vineet Kumar.

This data was then sent via remote access software to one Ajay who arranged for the solvers to answer the question papers. The correct answers were then made available to the candidates.

When questioned during an exam, Arun would send a “Stop” message to his co-accused to avoid detection.

The STF also revealed that the fraud-solving gang charged large amounts of money from candidates when they sought their help in cheating.