SIT flags irregularities in APPSC Group-I exam

The special investigation team (SIT) of Andhra Pradesh police has uncovered several irregularities in the valuation process of the Group-I job recruitment examination conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) in December 2020. The SIT, established by the state government under Crime Investigation Department chief Ravi Shankar Ayyanar, submitted its report to the high court on August 10, 2024, amid concerns over recent paper leak allegations and student protests.

The report reveals that answer scripts were moved out of secure custody, qualified evaluators were sidelined, unauthorized personnel were brought in, and widespread alterations were detected through forensic examination. The Group-I examination, held from December 14 to 20, 2020, had 114,473 aspirants competing for 169 posts. The SIT found that the evaluation process was repeatedly compromised across its three stages, including digital evaluation by TrueGrader EduServices in 2021, manual evaluation at Haailand Resort from December 2021 to February 2022, and a fresh manual evaluation in Vijayawada in 2022.

The examination process was further marred by the unauthorized use of university subject experts and the deployment of 66 data-entry operators, including electricians, security guards, clerks, private teachers, and housewives, for evaluation of answer sheets. The SIT also found that the digital evaluation contract was awarded without competitive tenders to TrueGrader EduServices, whose managing director was a college friend and associate of then APPSC secretary PSR Anjaneyulu.

Forensic evaluation of answer sheets revealed that 718 out of 736 showed alterations or overwriting, with 159 signature mismatches and 153 chief examiner alterations. The SIT has specifically examined the role of then APPSC Secretary P S R Anjaneyulu, who was named as 'Accused No 1' in the case and booked under Sections 409, 477-A, 420, and 120-B read with Section 34 of the IPC.