Students and Politicians Clash Outside CM’s House in Ranchi Over Exam Scandal

In Ranchi, the protest against alleged fraud in the JPSC‑JSSC recruitment examinations has escalated to a confrontation outside the official residence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The demonstration began as a student‑led march from the historic Assembly building to the new legislative complex, intended to spotlight irregularities that have reportedly affected dozens of candidates.

The situation intensified when opposition stalwart Babulal Marandi and BJP state leader Aditya Sahu led a parallel protest at the CM’s gate, demanding that the Central Bureau of Investigation take over the inquiry. Police responded by detaining both senior politicians along with several activists, citing violations of public order.

Marandi, after being taken into custody, accused the state government of attempting to “distract” the public while the examination controversy remains unresolved. He emphasized that the CBI should examine not only the JPSC‑JSSC process but also the related CGL recruitment.

According to the students, 19 arrests have already been made in connection with the case, and a hunger strike persists at the city’s stadium. The state asserts that it has met 98 percent of the protestors’ demands, including the nullification of the 14th JPSC exam, and has proposed an Economic Offences Department (ED) probe into financial irregularities.

Critics from the Jharkhand Liberation Front argue that some political parties are leveraging the agitation for electoral advantage. The BJP, on its part, maintains that the government’s refusal to authorize a CBI investigation undermines the future of the state’s youth and threatens the fairness of public service recruitment.