TNPSC Group 1 Exam Scam: Madras High Court Orders Completion of Trial in Six Months

Chennai, August 30 – The Madras High Court has directed the lower court to complete the trial within six months in the case involving the TNPSC Group 1 exam scam, where exam answer sheets were allegedly tampered with. The court dismissed a petition seeking to quash the case, emphasizing the need for a thorough and expedited investigation.

The case dates back to the 2016 TNPSC Group 1 examination conducted by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. The primary accused, Ramkumar, was arrested for allegedly manipulating his answer sheet to secure a higher rank. Further investigations led to the arrest of an accomplice working with him, as well as several TNPSC employees, who were also implicated in the scam.

The case has been under trial at the Chennai Special Court for Prevention of Corruption, where so far, 65 witnesses have been listed, and testimony from 10 individuals has been recorded. The petitioner, Karunanidhi, who was one of the accused, sought to have the case against him quashed, arguing that he was not involved in the answer sheet tampering and that the police had wrongfully implicated him without proper investigation.

However, the government’s counsel, Dr. C. E. Prathap, opposed the petition, stating that substantial progress had been made in the case and that the charges were serious. The High Court, led by Justice Seshasayee, upheld the government's argument and refused to dismiss the case.

The judge further instructed the Chennai Special Court for Prevention of Corruption to expedite the trial and conclude the proceedings within six months, ensuring that justice is served in this high-profile examination scam.