With the arrest of Jolly and Hardev Singh on Teachers Day, the police are probing a nexus between touts and employees of the Director Public Instructions (Schools), UT Education department. Jolly is the son of a former employee of the Education department, who retired from the DPI (S) office.

The accused allegedly demanded Rs 4.5 lakh from Kamalpreet Kaur, a candidate who applied for the post of teacher. These days, the Education department is in the process of recruiting teachers; interviews are yet to be done.

The incident came to light after Kamalpreet approached the UT Additional Deputy Commissioner P S Shergill on September 3 and said two individuals had assured her of selection if she paid them Rs 4 lakh.

The matter was brought to the notice of UT Home Secretary-cum-Chief Vigilance Officer Ram Niwas, who issued instructions to SSP S S Srivastava to put the mobile numbers of Jolly and Hardev under surveillance.

Subsequently, for two days, the cyber cell of the Chandigarh Police recorded the conversation between the accused and Kamalpreet. They demanded Rs 4.5 lakh from her, but a deal was struck at Rs 4 lakh. A coffee joint in Sector 35 was fixed as the place of meeting.

In the evening on September 5, Kamalpreet reached the coffee shop with cops. The moment she handed over the money to Jolly, he was nabbed.

On interrogation, Jolly divulged details about Hardev, who was arrested later in the evening. The accused were produced before the Duty Magistrate and taken on police remand on Sunday. The recorded conversation will be produced in court as corroborative evidence.

Jolly is a resident of Sector 7-B and Hardev lives in Kharar. Hardev is considered a tout, who had reportedly taken contact details of eligible candidates from an insider in DPI (S) office. Around 500 names and telephone numbers were recovered from his possession.

DPI (S) officials under scanner
Preliminary interrogation of the accused has revealed a nexus between the touts and DPI (S) officials. A senior official and a junior staff member posted in the office of DPI (S) have been named by the accused, the police said.

“We are thoroughly verifying the involvement of the DPI (S) staff. A few officials have been named by the accused. If any corroborative evidence is available besides their disclosures, the officials will not be spared,” a senior police officer told Newsline.

“Utter transparency will be maintained in the recruitment process”

Niwas, meanwhile, has ordered a thorough probe in the matter to unearth the nexus.

He advised candidates not to get misled by touts, as results of the written examination, conducted by the Panjab University, have already been sealed and are in the custody of the DEOAC.

The results of the written examinations are opened in the presence of a committee under video surveillance.

“Utter transparency will be maintained in the recruitment process,” Niwas said.

“And the arrest of these touts has given a clear message to all concerned that there is zero tolerance or scope for any irregularity in the ongoing recruitment process,” he added.