Why former Bihar chief minister Sanjeev Kumar Singhal is under scrutiny

A towering figure at the helm of the Bihar Police, Sanjeev Kumar Singhal wielded influence from every corridor of Sardar Patel Bhawan, the state’s police headquarters. As the director general of police (DGP) from September 2020 to December 2022, his word was the law that guided over 80,000 police personnel across the state.

Today, however, the tables have turned dramatically. The very institution that Singhal once headed is now reportedly considering disciplinary action against him — a remarkable fall from grace for a 1988-batch IPS officer (now retired) whose authority once defined policing in Bihar.

The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the Bihar Police has flagged lapses involving Singhal, who also served as the chairman of the Central Selection Board of Constables (CSBC). His tenure in the post, from January to December 2023, is under scrutiny over his suspected involvement in the leak of Bihar Constable Recruitment Examination documents.

Although the EOU has not yet gathered enough evidence to file criminal charges against Singhal, their investigation has cast suspicion on him for alleged negligence and procedural lapses. Under his leadership, a scandal erupted at the CSBC that led to the cancellation of the much-anticipated police recruitment exam. The initial recruitment drive attracted 3.7 million candidates competing for more than 21,000 constable positions, with 1.8 million candidates deemed eligible to take the test. However, the recruitment process was abruptly halted on October 1, 2023, after the exam paper was leaked on social media, raising serious questions about the integrity of the recruitment system. In December, after evidence of lapses emerged, Singhal was forced to resign.

The EOU investigation pointed to Singhal’s decision to award the contract for printing the exam papers to a press with questionable credentials. The investigation has so far led to 74 cases being registered in Bihar and 150 candidates being arrested. The EOU’s letter to current DGP Alok Raja highlighted “negligence” on the part of then CSBC chairman Singhal, citing lapses in following standard procedures. Although criminal proceedings have not been initiated yet, the report highlighted Singhal’s failure to protect the sanctity of the examination process, especially in ensuring safe processing of the exam papers.

The investigation has revealed a breach in the supply chain of the exam papers — from printing to transportation. Initial evidence points to the involvement of an organised crime group, although further investigation is needed. The EOU has already questioned Singhal about his choice of printing press, which apparently bypassed proper checks and verifications. The investigation suggests that members of the syndicate infiltrated the process and tampered with the papers before they reached the exam centres.

While the investigation is ongoing, the scandal has raised concerns about the credibility of Bihar’s public recruitment exams, casting a shadow over Singhal’s legacy. Unfortunately, document leaks are not new to Bihar. The state has seen several recruitment exams cancelled in recent years due to similar unfair practices.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing another high-profile case — the leak of the NEET-UG 2024 medical exam paper, which has been linked to Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. The CBI, Bihar Police and EOU have made over two dozen arrests in connection with the case. During the Supreme Court proceedings, the CBI revealed that organised gangs operating in Bihar were responsible for the breach.

In response to the rising number of exam-related irregularities, the Bihar government enacted the Bihar Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act in July 2024. The Act makes all offences related to unfair examination practices cognizable and non-bailable, with strict punishments including imprisonment for three to five years and a fine of Rs 10 lakh. The Act is in line with the central Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which prescribes even stricter punishments — imprisonment for five to 10 years and fines starting at Rs 1 crore for organised criminal gangs involved in such violations. Similar laws have been introduced by several other states, such as Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Under the new Bihar law, those found guilty of negligence could face up to five years in prison and hefty fines. Service providers involved in conducting the exams could face fines of up to Rs 1 crore, suspension of services for four years and seizure of assets in cases involving organised crime. Service providers could also be held liable for part of the cost of re-conducting exams tainted by such scandals. Investigations will now be led by officers in the rank of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) to ensure greater accountability.

As the investigation unfolds, Singhal’s once-smooth reputation is under a cloud, a reminder that no one is above reproach in Bihar’s corridors of power. The case is also a reflection of the broader challenges facing public recruitment systems in the state, where the fight for transparency and fairness remains an ongoing battle.

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