Rajasthan: Bluetooth slippers worth Rs 16 lakh used to cheat in REET 2021; 5 arrested
A gang fitted calling devices inside slippers to cheat and they were arrested in Bikaner while Rajasthan police unearthed the REET cheating racket across the state.
FollowFive people have been arrested for trying to cheat in Rajasthan Teacher Eligibility Test or REET exam. The candidates were found wearing "chappals" with Bluetooth devices fitted inside the sole, officials have said.
A gang fitted calling devices inside slippers to cheat and they were arrested in Bikaner while Rajasthan police unearthed the REET cheating racket across the state. Throughout the day, 40 people were arrested and over two dozen interrogated.
Initial investigation revealed that the accused had sold modified slippers for Rs 6 lakh each.
“A small battery and a SIM card were hidden under the soles of slippers. A bluetooth enabled micro-earpiece was fitted deep into candidates’ ears to help them listen to answers,” an official said as quoted by Times of India.
“One of the accused in the case is a suspended sub-inspector and we are making efforts to arrest him,” said IG Bikaner Prafulla Kumar, adding that slippers were supplied in Ajmer and Sikar districts.
Also read: Rajasthan government snapped internet and SMS services as 16 lakh appeared for REET 2021 exam
The accused were identified as Madanlal, Om Prakash, Gopal Krishna, Kiran and Trilok Chand. SIM cards, bluetooth devices and other equipment were recovered on them, TOI reported.
Police also identified the mastermind as one Tulsi Ram Kaler, who owns a coaching centre in Bikaner. Police said Ram had been arrested in the past too for similar cheating cases. “Kaler is on the run and our teams are looking for him,” said Bikaner SP Preeti Chandra.
Elaborate security arrangements were made for the exam. Strict steps were taken to check any attempts of cheating and mobile Internet services were suspended in many districts, including Jaipur, PTI reported.
In Dausa and Jaipur rural, police arrested four and eight dummy candidates and busted a gang involved in cheating in Bikaner, Ajmer, Pratapgarh and Sikar. Seven others were arrested from different places in connection with fraud in the REET exam, the report said.
Conducted by the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education, the exam was held in two shifts at 3,993 centres set up across 33 districts. As many as 16.51 lakh candidates had enrolled themselves for it.
