JAIPUR: A man’s attempt to secure a govt job for his wife through ‘illegal’ channel might lead to the exposure of a major recruitment scam in railways.
Manish Meena, a resident of Kota, approached railway authorities about eight months ago, alleging that his wife, Asha Meena, secured a railway job using a dummy candidate—someone who took the exam on her behalf.
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Manish claimed that he arranged the dummy through an agent whom he identified as Rajendra, a railway guard, for Rs 15 lakh, a sum he raised by mortgaging his agricultural land.
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But just five months after securing the job, Asha left him, reportedly calling him “unemployed” and refusing to stay with him. Feeling betrayed both personally and financially, Manish took his grievances to the authorities.
Acting on Manish’s report, the vigilance department of West Central Railway (WCR) launched a probe, which eventually led to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registering a case last Friday.
The FIR names Delhi Police constable Laxmi Meena and railway pointswoman, Asha Meena (Manish’s wife), along with unidentified railway officials.
According to preliminary findings, Asha may not be the only candidate who secured jobs using dummy candidates, suggesting the existence of a larger recruitment scam.
“In the past eight months, I reached out to the Special Operations Group (SOG), railway officials, and even the ministry of railways,” Manish told TOI Saturday.
“I was informed recently that my wife, Asha Meena, and the railway guard Rajendra were suspended, but no action was taken against the senior officials in Jabalpur who are running this racket.”
CBI is also probing the role of Laxmi Meena, who is accused of impersonating candidates in railway exams.
According to Manish’s complaint, Laxmi appeared as a dummy for Asha and another candidate, Sapna Meena, for two different examinations, taking their exams and even completing physical tests and document verification procedures. With Laxmi’s help, Asha became a pointswoman, while Sapna secured a job as a helper in the WCR.
Laxmi herself was recruited as a constable in the Delhi Police just a few months ago. “Last I heard, she joined duty,” Manish added. Records indicate that Laxmi, a resident of Chandupura village in Alwar district, appeared in the Grade-4 exam conducted by the Regional Railway Recruitment Board (RRRB) on Aug 30, 2022, on behalf of Asha Meena. Officials now suspect that this could be just one instance of a wider recruitment scam involving collusion between railway officials and middlemen.
While some lower-level employees have been suspended, Manish insists that senior officials in Jabalpur—who allegedly facilitated the racket—have so far evaded accountability. Sources said that CBI would register more FIRs in the matter.