Ranchi, July, 5: vigilance bureau of Jharkhand is considering an award for information that could lead to the arrest of former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) member Gopal Prasad Singh, who has been on the run for more than a year now after being in search by them in the illegal appointments scam in JPSC.
Gopal Prasad Singh disappeared soon after the FIR were written against him and other members of the JPSC by the vigilance bureau on 9, June, 2010 after the orders of Governor. All were accused of acts of grave irregularities, forgery, interpolation and fraud in conducting the JPSC civil services examinations conducted during their tenure. Singh allegedly appointed his several relatives and friends to various posts.
The vigilance bureau has already captured former JPSC member Shanti Devi, evaluator Saraswati Gagrai, S.S. Memorial College lecturer Anil Virendra Kullu, one Arti Behera and former secretary Alice Usha Rani Singh in connection with the scam.
Formar chairman of JPSC Dilip Prasad and former experts appointed by the commission Bateshwar Pandit and Sohan Ram voluntarily surrendered before the vigilance court, Ranchi few mont ago and now they are under judicial custody in Birsa Central Jail Ranchi.
“Gopal Prasad Singh is key to unravelling the various acts of omission and commission perpetrated by the JPSC while conducting the civil services examinations. Though several raids have been carried out by the bureau at his residence in Godda as well as at the residences of his close relatives at Dumka in Santhal Pargana, he is still at large. We would soon be announcing a reward of several lakhs of rupees for information about him,” IG (vigilance) M.V. Rao told the press.
Gopal Prasad Singh has been already named as co-accused in four other FIR lodged by the Vigilance bureau on27 April 2011 for misuse of his position in the appointments of the officers my JPSC. He is also an accused of foul play in appointments for the posts of junior and assistant engineers, pharmacy lecturers and two deputy registrars at Ranchi University and Sido Kanhu Murmu University.
A vigilance inquairy report on the alleged irregularities by Gopal Singh in the second civil services exams evaluated by hand-picked examiners at his Godda home to facilitate appointment of his sons, other relatives and friends to the state civil services.
The former high profile member of JPSC has been accused of using his position to get both his sons — Kundan Kumar Singh and Rajnish Kumar — appointed to the state finance and administrative services respectively in the second civil services exams conducted by JPSC in 2007-08.
Both his sons were later sacked on the orders of the state government after surfacing of scam.Others favoured by Singh include Shivendra, one of his relative, who was appointed as a DYSP along with eight sons and daughters of his close allies.
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