ED attaches ₹2.01 crore in properties linked to Bihar exam paper leak

It matters to citizens as it details the enforcement action taken against a syndicate accused of leaking the Bihar Constable Recruitment Exam 2023 paper and laundering the proceeds.

Who it concerns: The document concerns Kaushik Kumar Kar (owner of Blessings Secured Press Pvt. Ltd. and beneficial owner of Caltex Multiventures Pvt. Ltd. and NC Print Pvt. Ltd.), the Central Selection Board of Constable, Bihar, the Bihar Government, exam aspirants affected by the cancellation of the 2023 exam, and other accused persons/entities involved in the alleged conspiracy and money laundering.

What the ED says it did

• ED provisionally attached 5 immovable properties valued at ₹2.01 Crore held by M/s NC Print Pvt. Ltd.
• The attachment is under the PML Act, 2002, in connection with the Bihar Constable Recruitment, 2023 exam paper leak.
• ED investigation was initiated based on an FIR by EOU, Patna for offences under IPC sections 120B, 420, 467, 468 and IT Act Section 66.
• Kaushik Kumar Kar allegedly orchestrated a conspiracy using his proxy company Caltex Multiventures Pvt. Ltd. to secure the printing contract from the Central Selection Board of Constable, Bihar.
• Caltex Multiventures Pvt. Ltd. allegedly secured the contract through cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, despite lacking prior experience and a printing press.
• The contract was allegedly outsourced to Blessings Secured Press Pvt. Ltd., which had been blacklisted for previous paper leak cases.
• Question papers were allegedly transported from Kolkata to Patna and leaked en route, leading to the exam's cancellation.
• Caltex Multiventures received an advance of ₹5.9 Crore, of which ₹2.01 Crore was allegedly diverted through shell entities and dissipated.
• Proceeds of crime were allegedly layered and concealed through a network of Kolkata-based shell companies and converted into cash.
• Further investigation into additional proceeds and the roles of other accused persons is underway.

Also in the document

• The press release states that the leakage resulted in the exam being cancelled, causing financial loss to the Bihar Government and adversely affecting the careers of exam aspirants.
• The attached properties are held in the name of M/s NC Print Pvt. Ltd., described as another company controlled and beneficially owned by Kaushik Kumar Kar.
• The document notes that the crime proceeds could not be traced further, leading to the attachment of properties as value equivalent to the identified proceeds of crime.