Lucknow-based social activist Amitabh Thakur on Sunday (August 2, 2026) demanded the Uttar Pradesh government to set up a State-level special monitoring cell on paper leak for time-bound investigation and prompt prosecution of culprits to restore public faith in examination process and recruitment drive.

“I sent a letter to the Chief Minister and Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh demanding the establishment of a State-level special monitoring cell and special public prosecutors for effective investigation, prosecution and judicial monitoring of all cases related to examination question paper leak in the State. The frequent question paper leaks that have surfaced in recent years have raised serious questions about the future of millions of youth and the credibility of recruitment exams. Despite a stated ‘zero tolerance’ policy, many old cases remain pending for years,” Mr. Thakur told The Hindu. 

Mr. Thakur, a former 1992-batch Indian Police Service officer, mentioned about pending cases, including the 2006 Railway Recruitment Examination question paper leak case involving two MLAs of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). “The affidavits submitted by the current MLAs, Bedi Ram and Vipul Dubey, before the Election Commission show that such serious cases can remain pending for almost two decades. I urged the State government to conduct a comprehensive review of all question paper leak cases, ensure special oversight from investigation to prosecution, and periodically make public the progress of these cases,” said Mr. Thakur, who leads the Azad Adhikar Sena.

Demands White Paper

The Congress demanded a White Paper on the irregular recruitments and instances of paper leak in the State, pushing for fixing accountability. “There are many instances of paper leaks in Uttar Pradesh. Ruling party MLAs are accused in paper leaks, the words of the Prime Minister will be taken seriously only when the BJP leadership takes action on alliance MLAs who are accused in paper leak. We also demand a White Paper on the number of recruitment examinations conducted in the last nine years, the instances of irregularities, paper leak and what action has been taken,” said Congress national secretary Shahnawaz Alam.

Published - August 02, 2026 08:23 pm IST