Dehradun: In a major crackdown on exam malpractice, Dehradun Police have arrested 17 candidates for allegedly using hidden Bluetooth devices to cheat during the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti/Lab Attendant competitive examination, conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Acting on a tip-off, the police carried out surprise checks at two examination centres in the city, where they discovered miniature Bluetooth gadgets concealed in the candidates’ shoes and personal belongings. Authorities recovered 17 such devices during the operation.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh confirmed that the arrests followed specific intelligence about a cheating network operating in the area. The accused are currently being interrogated by local police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) to trace the source and wider network behind the supply of these illegal devices.
Three FIRs have been filed at the Kotwali Patel Nagar and Dalanwala police stations. The arrested individuals have been charged under Sections 3, 4, 10, and 11 of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, in addition to Sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—stringent provisions designed to curb examination-related crimes.
Officials said the crackdown is part of a broader effort to uphold the integrity of competitive exams in the state. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the cheating operation.
