Case file · CSBC · surfaced 1 Oct 2023

Bihar constable exam 2023: printing-press leak; cancelled in two days

Arrests made

Confidence C — based on the press record (archived below). No primary documents on file yet; treat names of agencies, dates and figures as reported, not established.

The written exam for 21,391 constable posts, held on 1 October 2023 at 529 centres for over 18 lakh aspirants, was cancelled by CSBC on 3 October after answers circulated before the test. EOU FIRs identified an inter-state gang — the same network later accused in the NEET-UG 2024 leak — and traced the leak to a Kolkata printing press through a vendor firm. Seven people including three from West Bengal were arrested; the ED opened a money-laundering case and raided four states in June 2025. The re-exam was held in August 2024.

Examination: Constable Recruitment 2023 (Advt. 01/2023)
Conducting body: Central Selection Board of Constables (CSBC)
Exam date: 1 Oct 2023
Leak date (as documented): 30 Sept 2023
Surfaced: 1 Oct 2023
States: Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh
Candidates affected: ~18.0 lakh
Leak vector: Printing press
State govt at the time: JD(U)–RJD (Mahagathbandhan)
Last reviewed: 11 Jun 2026

Stall clock — no docket movement for

357

days (357d) · last movement 2025-06-19

Accountability Gap Index

national average 0.97 / 7 · how this is scored →

1 / 7

✓ FIR within 30 days
✗ Charge sheet within 180 days
✗ Any conviction
✗ Exam cancelled & fully re-held
✗ Fee refund documented
✗ Official permanently removed
✗ Reform gazette-notified

Each milestone scores one point only when the register holds a document for it. The gap is what the missing points describe.

How it surfaced

Who found it

Candidates reported it

Answer slips photographed inside centres circulated within an hour of the first shift; EOU later traced the leak to the printing-to-transport chain.

The conducting body's first response

Acknowledged it

CSBC cancelled both exam days while shifts were still underway and re-conducted the exam in 2024.

The docket

Every legal action on record, in order. Each row cites its document.

3 Oct 2023

Exam cancelled · Central Selection Board of Constables

CSBC notice dt. 03.10.2023

Written exam of 01.10.2023 cancelled; later shifts postponed.

per: CSBC notice dt. 03.10.2023: cancellation of written exam (Advt. 01/2023) (Central Selection Board of Constables, 3 Oct 2023)
4 Oct 2023

FIR registered · Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police

EOU FIRs against the leak syndicate; probe identified a Kolkata press and a vendor firm in the chain.

per: ED raids multiple states in 2023 Bihar constable recruitment scam probe (The Economic Times, 19 Jun 2025)
31 Oct 2023

Arrest · EOU, Bihar Police

Seven private persons arrested, including three from West Bengal; gang head in judicial custody.

per: ED raids multiple states in 2023 Bihar constable recruitment scam probe (The Economic Times, 19 Jun 2025)
19 Jun 2025

Order / direction · Enforcement Directorate

PMLA searches at a dozen locations in Bihar, Jharkhand, UP and West Bengal, covering the printing press.

per: ED raids multiple states in 2023 Bihar constable recruitment scam probe (The Economic Times, 19 Jun 2025)

What candidates got

Outcome	Ordered by	Order date	Detail
Exam cancelled (full)	CSBC	3 Oct 2023	—
Re-exam held	CSBC	—	Re-examination conducted in August 2024.

After the suspension

Suspension is where most coverage ends. This is what the record says happened next — tracking rules →

⚑ Chairman, CSBC (retd. DGP)

No departmental action recorded · 3 Oct 2023

The board cancelled the exam; no departmental action against any CSBC official has been published.

⚑ marks an official who returned to, or never left, the ministry whose exam leaked.

The investigation trail

Every SIT, committee and inquiry announced for this case — and whether its report ever became public.

EOU probe into CSBC leak

Formed 3 Oct 2023 · by Bihar Police (EOU)

Report status: not made public · 982 days elapsed

EOU traced the network to the same organiser later accused in NEET-UG 2024; arrests continued into 2025. No public report.

What it cost candidates

₹32.4 crore estimated

The workings

18 lakh candidates × Rs 180 fee ≈ Rs 32.4 crore; the re-exam was held in stages through 2024, a second round of travel for every candidate.

Travel and wage loss excluded for want of a sourced estimate.

no fee refund documented No refund recorded.

methodology →

per: CSBC advertisement 1/2023 (fee); reported registration figures.

Custody & bail updates

Later movement in custody recorded against this case.

26 Apr 2025
A Patna court granted the EOU custody of the alleged organiser of the NEET-UG 2024 ring in this case as well, treating the two leaks as one network.

Sources on file

Tier 1 · primary CSBC notice dt. 03.10.2023: cancellation of written exam (Advt. 01/2023) — Central Selection Board of Constables · 3 Oct 2023
Tier 2 · reported ED raids multiple states in 2023 Bihar constable recruitment scam probe — The Economic Times · 19 Jun 2025 [archived]

Status log

Every status this register has ever assigned to this case. Append-only.

1 Oct 2023	ALLEGED	Allegations surfaced publicly.
4 Oct 2023	ALLEGED → FIR_REGISTERED	EOU FIRs against the leak syndicate; probe identified a Kolkata press and a vendor firm in the chain.
31 Oct 2023	FIR_REGISTERED → ARRESTS_MADE	Seven private persons arrested, including three from West Bengal; gang head in judicial custody.

Act on this record

File an RTI on this case pre-filled from the docket · RTI Act 2005 · ₹10 fee

The application below is pre-filled from this case file. Add your name and address, then send it to the Public Information Officer of Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police — online via rtionline.gov.in (central bodies) or your state RTI portal.

To: The Public Information Officer,
Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police

Subject: Request under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Bihar constable exam 2023: printing-press leak; cancelled in two days

Under the Right to Information Act 2005, I request the following information:

1. Current status of FIR No. [number] dated 4 Oct 2023 concerning the question paper leak in Constable Recruitment 2023 (Advt. 01/2023).
2. Whether a charge sheet has been filed in this matter; if yes, its date and the court where it was filed.
3. Names and current postings of all officials suspended in connection with this matter.
4. Whether any suspended official has been reinstated; if yes, the order reference and date.
5. Date and outcome of the last court hearing in this matter.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 as required. If this application falls outside your office's purview, kindly transfer it under Section 6(3) of the Act and inform me.

Regards,
[Applicant name]
[Address]
[Date]

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