One of the prime accused in the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) examination scam case who was absconding was arrested by the police last week. In a statement issued here on Monday, Assistant Commissioner of Police B. Krishna Kumar, who is heading the investigation in the case, identified him as Najam, 30, a native of Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram district.
The case relates to a racket that provided answers over mobile phones to candidates attending various PSC examinations. Prakash Lal was the kingpin of the racket.
Fourteen cases were registered by the police and close to 100 people, including a practising lawyer of the Kollam Bar, were arrested. Mr. Krishna Kumar said eight more persons wanted in connection with the case had to be arrested and eight cases were facing trial before various courts in Kollam.
Najam’s arrest pertains to the PSC examination for the post of peon at the Beverages Corporation held on October 30, 2010 and to the post of last-grade employees in various departments held on August 7, 2010. While he was listed as accused number 17 in the former case, he was accused number 5 in the latter case. Najam went absconding soon after the investigations began. The police recently got a tip-off that he had come on a visit to his native place and began tracking him. Najam moved the High Court for anticipatory bail but the plea was rejected. The court also directed him to appear before the investigating officers.
Mr. Krishna Kumar said he was produced before a magistrate court here on April 24 and sent to police custody for further investigations. On Monday, Najam was again produced the same court and remanded to the district jail till May 9.
