Rajasthan's Special Operations Group (SOG) achieved a significant breakthrough on December 10, 2025, by arresting Khilan Singh, alias KD Don, a Bhopal resident and employee at Ruchi Printing Press in Madhya Pradesh, in connection with the 2020 Forest Guard recruitment exam paper leak. Singh allegedly stole question papers for both exam shifts with the help of press staff and sold them to the syndicate's kingpin, Jabra Ram Jat, for Rs 23 lakh, transacted through a mix of cash and online payments. The arrest stemmed directly from the intensive interrogation of Jat—a Rs 50,000 rewardee captured earlier that week—whose revelations traced the leak to its source at the Bhopal printing facility responsible for producing the confidential materials.
The recruitment process, initiated in 2020 for over 2,300 Forest Guard and Forester positions, drew more than 16 lakh applicants and culminated in exams on November 12-13, 2022. Reports of leaks surfaced almost immediately, leading to the cancellation of one shift and widespread protests that highlighted deep-seated corruption in Rajasthan's public hiring system. Additional Director General Vishal Bansal confirmed that preliminary investigations verified Singh's role in compromising papers for multiple shifts, exposing critical security lapses in the handling of sensitive exam materials.
During questioning, Singh confessed to the theft and named several colleagues at the printing press who may have assisted, prompting SOG teams to expand searches in Madhya Pradesh. This has opened new leads in a case that has already resulted in over 27 arrests, including beneficiaries now serving in government roles. The interstate nature of the operation underscores the organised networks behind such leaks, often spanning printing vendors, middlemen, and solvers.
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The scandal has severely delayed vital appointments in Rajasthan's forest department, which manages extensive protected areas facing ongoing threats from poaching, encroachment, and climate challenges. With a fresh exam now tentatively scheduled for mid-2026 under stricter protocols, the high court continues to monitor progress amid demands for accountability.
As the probe deepens into the printing network, authorities anticipate additional arrests and potential recoveries of illicit assets. The SOG's persistent efforts reflect a broader crackdown on exam mafias plaguing competitive recruitment in the state.
Ultimately, this case exemplifies systemic vulnerabilities in India's public sector hiring, intensifying calls for centralised digital examinations, enhanced vendor scrutiny, and tamper-proof processes to safeguard opportunities for millions of genuine aspirants.
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