Ranchi: Three members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmed resigned from their posts on Sunday amid a deepening controversy over alleged irregularities in the commission's examinations.
All three submitted their resignation letters to Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar. The reasons for their resignations have not yet been disclosed.
The development comes as the three serving JPSC members were summoned for questioning by the Jharkhand Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing alleged irregularities in JPSC recruitment examinations.
The commission has already been embroiled in controversy over alleged irregularities and rigging in recent competitive examinations, with candidates staging protests and demanding a fair and transparent investigation into the examination process.
Against this backdrop, the resignation of the three members assumes significance.
The CID, which is investigating the alleged examination irregularities, is scheduled to question the three commission members individually. According to official sources, Bhattacharya will be questioned on Monday, Hansda on Tuesday and Ahmed on Wednesday. The three may also be summoned for further questioning.
Earlier, the CID questioned former JPSC Chairman and former Chief Secretary L. Khiangte over four rounds. The agency sought information on various aspects of the examination process and decisions taken at the commission level.
The investigative agency is gathering information from those questioned regarding the examination process and alleged irregularities and is preparing for further action based on the facts that have emerged during the questioning.
Sources said more arrests could be made in the coming days based on clues emerging from the investigation.
So far, the CID has arrested four candidates allegedly involved in examination fraud and three alleged middlemen.
With IANS inputs