Three Arrested in Kolkata for Allegedly Impersonating CBI Officers to Access Confidential SSC Recruitment Records
Three men have been arrested in Kolkata on suspicion of impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers and trying to obtain confidential recruitment records from the Staff Selection Commission’s (SSC) Eastern Region office at Nizam Palace on AJC Bose Road.
According to police sources, two of the accused, identified as Biprarshi Bose and Subham Sagar Tanti, reached the SSC office at about 2:30 pm on Monday in a Tata Nexon displaying “Government of India” signage and markings identifying it as a Deputy Superintendent of Police’s vehicle. Bose allegedly posed as a CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police and Tanti as a Sub-Inspector.
The pair allegedly presented fake CBI identity cards and forged candidate files, seeking recruitment records and internal data on the pretext of conducting an official inquiry. SSC officials became suspicious when the men were unable to produce authorisation. The two allegedly admitted that the documents had been forged, after which officials alerted police and the men were apprehended at the office.
Questioning Bose led investigators to a third accused, identified by police sources as Pallab Mondal. Police seized the vehicle from the Nizam Palace complex and recovered fake CBI badges and SSC documents.
Other reports have given different spellings for the accused, identifying the trio as Biprashi Basu, Shubham Sarkar and Pallab Mandal. Those accounts said all three arrived together in a vehicle displaying Government of India boards. They allegedly claimed to be investigating the appointments of candidates who had recently obtained government jobs through the SSC and sought access to documents, candidate lists and personal details. Subsequent verification with the CBI confirmed that none of the men was associated with the agency.
Bhowanipore Police registered a case following a complaint from Surajit Basak, Assistant Director of the SSC’s Eastern Region. The case invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to forgery, cheating by impersonation and criminal conspiracy.
Investigators are examining whether the accused were linked to a wider recruitment or job fraud racket that allegedly took money from aspirants in exchange for promises of appointments in central government departments. Some accounts said forged appointment letters purportedly issued by various central ministries were among the items recovered.
The attempt to access SSC records has prompted security concerns at Nizam Palace, which houses several central government offices. Police are continuing their investigation to establish the full extent of any network and the motive behind the alleged attempt.
