CHENNAI: In a major breakthrough, the police have arrested 14 persons in connection with the alleged leakage of the question paper for the selection of Grade-II police constables in Tamil Nadu last year. The arrested persons were later remanded to custody, the police said.

Of the arrested, five were head constables, while four were constables. The police personnel were already placed under suspension. Nine others were examination candidates from Kancheepuram and Vellore, a senior police officer said.

The police have registered a case under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 457 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment), 380 (theft in dwelling house, etc), 166 (public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent) IPC, and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

It was embarrassing for the police when the question paper for the selection of 1997 police constables was leaked. The examination was conducted for the second time on June 1 last year, when the paper was again leaked. Following this, the police ordered an inquiry and 24 personnel and a member of the ministerial staff, were placed under suspension. Disciplinary action was also initiated against 15 other police personnel. The examination was held for the third time on October 1 and the results were declared.

Meanwhile, following a petition filed by a candidate, the Madras High Court ordered the transfer of the investigation of the matter to the CBI.

The Supreme Court stayed the operation of the High Court order.

The Special Investigation Team of the CB CID conducted investigation and made the arrests.

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