New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) is conducting searches at 12 locations across the country in connection with the case of Staff Selection Commission (SSC) paper leak scam.The CBI on May 23 registered an FIR in the paper leak scam case, which was entrusted to the top investigative agency in March this year.

CBI registered a case against 17 accused over leak of Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination conducted by Staff Selection Commission (SSC). The accused persons include the content team head of a private technology company and 16 other private persons, unknown officials of SSC, reported ANI.

Earlier this month, a Delhi government clerk, suspected to be the mastermind of a crime syndicate helping candidates cheat the online examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission, was arrested. With the arrest of Harpal Singh, on May 4, the total number of gang members arrested in the case had reached 10.  Last month, Delhi Police arrested five persons in connection with the matter.

Another four were arrested in March, when the case was transferred to the crime Branch from the north district police. During interrogation, the police found that the syndicate worked as aorganised grouping. The members would hack into the online system and assist candidates taking the examination.

The candidates were charged between Rs 5 and Rs 10 lakh.  The gang allegedly had developed a network with examination centres and computer labs in various cities. The SSC outsources the conduct of the examination to labs such as these.  The Centre had in March informed the Supreme Court that the CBI had registered a preliminary inquiry in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) paper leak case and was investigating the matter.