By Vishwapati
Patna: The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has issued a legal notice to Prashant Kishor, the founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, and several of his associates. The commission has demanded evidence within seven days regarding allegations of corruption levelled by Kishor and his team members. The notice references Kishor’s statements made on 2nd, 3rd, and 6th January, with a YouTube clip of his remarks attached. A warning of legal action has also been issued if a response is not submitted within the stipulated timeframe.
Prashant Kishor has been on a hunger strike since 2nd January, demanding the cancellation of the 70th preliminary examination on allegations of corruption made by a group of BPSC candidates. He began his hunger strike at Gandhi Maidan on the evening of 2nd January, during which he made several serious allegations against the commission’s chairman.
In Kishor’s presence, some students accused the commission’s chairman, Ravi Manu Bhai Parmar, of being a “thief.” During his addresses, Kishor repeatedly alleged that the examination was manipulated and that seats were sold.
BPSC Seeks Evidence for Three Allegations
The BPSC’s legal team, through advocate Sanjay Singh, has sent a notice to Kishor and his colleagues. According to Satya Prakash Sharma, the commission’s secretary, Kishor has been asked to provide evidence for three specific allegations.
During his hunger strike, Kishor claimed that, “For the posts for which BPSC exams are being conducted in Bihar, brokers linked to BPSC officials, the education mafia, and political leaders are striking deals. Lakhs of rupees are being taken for each post.”
In its legal notice, the commission also referred to Kishor’s claim that there were large-scale irregularities in the examination and that some seats were sold for ₹1 crore to ₹1.5 crore, amounting to a scam worth over ₹1,000 crore. Kishor further alleged that BPSC acted in collusion with the government, selling more than half the seats even before the examination was conducted.
The commission stated that such allegations tarnish the image of an autonomous institution like BPSC. If Kishor does not provide evidence supporting his claims within seven days, further legal action will be initiated.
BPSC Defends Its Credibility
BPSC secretary Satya Prakash Sharma emphasised that the commission operates as an autonomous institution, free from external pressure. He refuted claims of irregularities in the 70th preliminary examination, asserting that no evidence of paper leaks or malpractice has surfaced.
Sharma noted that when a question paper delay caused an irregularity at one centre, the commission promptly cancelled the examination at that centre. A re-examination was conducted on 4th January in a fair and malpractice-free environment.
The secretary also highlighted that those raising questions about the examination were urged to provide evidence of any irregularities. To date, no evidence warranting the cancellation of the exams across all centres has been submitted.
