CBI busts Railway Exam Scam: 26 officials arrested, ₹1.17 Crore recovered

By Sumesh Rajan | March 05, 2025

Mughalsarai, India – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a major departmental examination paper leak under the East Central Railway, leading to the arrest of 26 railway officials, including 17 loco pilots caught red-handed with leaked question papers.

Authorities also recovered ₹1.17 crore in cash, allegedly paid as bribes for the leaked exam.

The exam, scheduled for March 4, was intended for promotions to the post of Chief Loco Inspector. However, the CBI launched an operation on the night of March 3 and March 4, uncovering the fraud before the test could take place.

Railway Officials at the Center of the Scam

Investigations revealed that a Senior Deputy Electrical Engineer (Ops) was responsible for setting the exam paper. He allegedly handwrote the questions in English before passing them to a loco pilot, who translated them into Hindi. The leaked paper then circulated among candidates through a network of railway officials.

CBI officials matched the seized handwritten papers with the original exam, confirming the leak. Searches at eight locations led to the recovery of ₹1.17 crore, reportedly collected from candidates in exchange for the leaked questions.

Crackdown and Arrests

Among those arrested are the Senior DEE (Ops) and multiple railway employees, all implicated in the scam.

The 17 arrested candidates, currently employed as loco pilots, allegedly paid for the leaked exam and were found in possession of photocopied handwritten question papers.

The case underscores the deep-rooted corruption within railway recruitment and promotion processes, with authorities vowing strict action against those involved. The investigation remains ongoing, with further arrests likely as officials dig deeper into the network behind the scandal.