ACB Registers Case Over Fire & Emergency Services Recruitment Scam, 5 Brothers and Relatives of Officials Among Those Selected

Srinagar, Jan 2, KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case following allegations of malpractices in the recruitment process for Fireman/Fireman Drivers in the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department. The inquiry has unearthed significant irregularities, including the selection of multiple family members, such as five brothers from Budgam and other relatives of officials involved in the recruitment process.

The ACB’s action comes after a report from an inquiry committee formed by the government to look into these allegations. The committee’s report raised concerns of paper leakage and other anomalies that warranted a criminal investigation, prompting the ACB to register an FIR (No. 01/2025) in Police Station ACB Central.

According to the findings, the selection process began in 2013 with an advertisement for Fireman/Fireman Driver posts. However, discrepancies in the recruitment process led to its termination in 2016. The process was restarted in 2018, with the government ensuring a transparent recruitment process through an open bid system. The process was overseen by an agency, M/s Timing Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., but faced allegations of malpractice during the physical and written tests.

In 2019, after mass copying allegations in the written examination, the government cancelled the results and ordered a fresh examination, changing the TRP agency. In 2020, the Directorate of F&ES issued a fresh tender to select a vendor for the examination process, resulting in M/s LMES IT LLP, Jammu, being awarded the contract despite concerns over its eligibility.

Further investigation has revealed favoritism in the selection of the L-2 bidder, as M/s LMES IT LLP had no proven experience as required by the tender guidelines. The company’s main partner, Maharaj Krishan Wali, had previously worked as a resource person for the earlier agency, raising suspicions about the integrity of the selection.

More troubling findings include discrepancies in the written examination results. Out of the 690 selected candidates, 109 were found to have secured lower marks than shown on the final selection list, with some candidates being awarded inflated scores. The selection of five brothers from the same family and several other relatives of F&ES officials raised further red flags regarding the transparency of the process.

The investigation revealed that members of the Departmental Recruitment Board, the Technical Committee, and F&ES officers acted in concert with M/s LMES IT LLP to manipulate the selection process for personal gain. The case has been registered under several sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code, including sections 7, 13(1)(a) & 13(2) of the PC Act, 1988, and sections 120-B, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the IPC. [KNT]