The UP STF has arrested Lokesh for supplying modified electronic devices used in a multi-state SSC exam cheating racket
Alwar: The accused, identified as Lokesh, was arrested in Alwar, Rajasthan, on July 30. According to the STF, he was a wanted member of the examination cheating racket busted in May this year for hacking the online examination system and helping candidates cheat through proxy servers and specially modified TFT screens.
The racket came to light on May 22, when the STF raided the Balaji Digital Zone examination centre in Greater Noida during the SSC recruitment examination. Seven people, including alleged mastermind Pradeep Chauhan, the owner of the examination centre, and hacker Amit Rana, were arrested. The STF also recovered Rs 50 lakh in cash, proxy servers and other electronic equipment allegedly used in the operation. An eighth accused was arrested on July 6.
During interrogation, the arrested accused allegedly told investigators that the modified TFT screens used in the cheating operation had been supplied by Lokesh, who had been absconding since the racket was uncovered.
Following his arrest, the STF searched Lokesh’s residence in Alwar and recovered a large quantity of electronic equipment. The seized items included 92 TFT screens, Raspberry Pi devices, VGA cards, memory cards, Wi-Fi dongles, converters, cables, a laptop and other hardware allegedly used to manufacture the modified screens.
According to the STF, the modified TFT screens looked like ordinary computer monitors but were equipped to secretly transmit a candidate’s computer screen to remote solvers using Wi-Fi dongles and Raspberry Pi devices.
The alleged remote solvers, who were positioned outside the examination centre, would reportedly receive the questions in real time, solve them and transmit the answers back to the candidates. Investigators further claimed that the racket used advanced routers and Wi-Fi devices operating outside the frequency range of signal jammers installed at examination centres, allegedly allowing the communication system to function without detection.
During interrogation, Lokesh allegedly told the STF that he is a BA graduate and had completed a six-month course in computer hardware and networking in 2013. He reportedly runs a computer hardware business, Mansi Infotech, and allegedly learnt to manufacture modified TFT screens in 2017 while working on networking projects.
The STF claimed that Lokesh supplied the modified screens to examination cheating networks operating across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
According to investigators, Lokesh allegedly told them that manufacturing each modified TFT screen cost around Rs 40,000, while he charged approximately Rs 5,000 for modifying an existing unit.
Lokesh has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
The STF said further investigation is underway to identify other members of the alleged network and trace candidates and other beneficiaries who may have benefited from the examination fraud.
