The Punjab government has asserted that no paper leaks have occurred in the state over the past five years after Punjab Police successfully foiled a high-tech cheating operation during the Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination on July 19, 2026. Authorities clarified that the timely bust—resulting in over 35 detentions, including candidates and masterminds—was a prompt disruption of on-the-spot cheating rather than an actual paper leak or compromised examination security.High-Tech Cheating Racket DisruptedThe operation targeted the Pharmacy Officer Recruitment Examination conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), which aimed to fill 454 positions across the state.Investigators revealed that the network employed sophisticated digital gear to transmit answers in real time:Hidden Pen Cameras: A candidate in Ferozepur used a concealed camera inside a pen to photograph the question paper shortly after the exam began.Control Room Setup: Images were sent via messaging apps to accomplices in Haryana, who then relayed answers to a temporary control room in Faridkot.Wireless Transmitters: Operatives dictated answers back to candidates inside exam centres using micro Bluetooth devices, hidden earpieces, and gear concealed within clothing.The syndicate allegedly charged aspirants between ₹3.5 lakh and ₹13 lakh for guarantees of passing marks. Police recovered 27 battery-operated wireless devices alongside hidden communication tools during coordinated raids.Key Figures & Crackdown SummaryParameterDetailsTarget ExamPharmacy Officer Recruitment Exam (454 vacancies, ~7,000 candidates)Exam DateJuly 19, 2026Enforcement ActionOver 35 individuals detained (including 28 candidates and 7 masterminds)Racket OperationsMulti-state network across Punjab, Haryana, and RajasthanOfficial StanceDisrupted in real time; zero evidence of insider involvement or prior paper leakState Response & "Zero Paper Leak" RecordAddressing media queries following the bust, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reiterated that government recruitment in Punjab remains strictly merit-based."It has been over four years since our government assumed office, and not a single examination paper has leaked in Punjab. When an attempt to facilitate cheating came to our notice, we acted immediately to put every single perpetrator behind bars."— Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister of PunjabState ministers also emphasized the distinction between an institutional paper leak and a foiled cheating attempt, noting that swift police intervention ensured the integrity of the recruitment process while protecting the efforts of genuine job aspirants.Also Read :- Kanwar Yatra 2026: Delhi-Haridwar Highway to Remain Closed for Regular Traffic in Muzaffarnagar from August 4-12
