UP Police Constable Paper Leak Protest 2024: Facts, Timeline

The Uttar Pradesh Police constable recruitment exam of 17 and 18 February 2024, held for 60,244 posts, was cancelled on 24 February. Candidates had protested at Lucknow's Eco Garden, at the UP Public Service Commission in Prayagraj and elsewhere, saying the paper had leaked. The state ordered a Special Task Force (STF) probe, removed the recruitment board's chief and on 2 March cancelled the RO/ARO exam too. The STF traced the leak to a warehouse in Ahmedabad. The exam was re-held in August 2024, and 60,244 constables got appointment letters in June 2025.

48 lakh+applicants for the constable exam

60,244constable posts

244arrested or detained during exam days, per police

178FIRs in 41 districts linked to the leak

1,74,316called to physical tests after the re-exam

Life + Rs 1 croremaximum penalty under the 2024 state law

Key takeaways

The UP Police constable exam of 17 and 18 February 2024 was cancelled on 24 February after aspirants protested that the paper had leaked. Officials had first called the claims rumours.
On 2 March 2024 the government also cancelled the UPPSC's RO/ARO prelims of 11 February, and it later removed the police recruitment board's chairperson.
The STF says the paper was stolen from a transport firm's warehouse in Ahmedabad. It arrested alleged masterminds Rajeev Nayan Mishra and Ravi Atri in April 2024 and chargesheeted 18 accused.

Background: the exam

The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) held the written exam for Constable Civil Police, Direct Recruitment 2023, on 17 and 18 February 2024. It ran in four shifts across all 75 districts IANS, for 60,244 posts Scroll.

Most outlets said more than 48 lakh candidates took the exam, about 16 lakh of them women Business Today. IANS said over 43 lakh of about 50 lakh applicants appeared IANS, and the state later put applications at 48.17 lakh PTI via ETV Bharat. On 11 February the UP Public Service Commission (UPPSC) had held prelims for 411 Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer (RO/ARO) posts, which candidates also said had leaked Careers360.

The leak allegations

From 17 February, candidates posted screenshots online that they said showed the paper had leaked National Herald. Protesters told The Times of India it sold for Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh, and that some candidates had it eight to 12 hours early Scroll.

Police said they arrested or detained 244 people between 15 and 18 February for using or planning to use unfair means. DGP Prashant Kumar said "most of the arrests were made before the accused could execute their nefarious plans" PTI via Careers360.

The first FIR was registered at Lucknow's Krishna Nagar police station on 19 February, on a complaint from a constable on duty at an exam centre. It says a candidate was caught with a chit whose answers matched the paper. It adds that an alleged racketeer had sent him the answers on WhatsApp The Wire.

The protests: Prayagraj and Lucknow

In Prayagraj, RO/ARO candidates protested outside the UPPSC headquarters for days. They demanded that the exam be cancelled and that chairman Sanjay Srinet be removed Business Today. On 23 February, the fifth day, they blocked the road at the gate and marched. They refused talks with a deputy secretary and alleged that the chairman left by a back door The Mooknayak.

The same day in Lucknow, constable candidates gathered at the Eco Garden protest site. Scroll counted "hundreds" and The Wire "thousands" Scroll The Wire. They chanted "ek hi nara ek hi naam: re-exam re-exam", and a PTI photo showed police detaining a candidate National Herald. The Wire also reported demonstrations outside government offices elsewhere in the state.

In Kannauj, a 28-year-old man who had sat the exam died by suicide on 22 February. His family said he was upset over the alleged leak PTI via National Herald.

How the government responded

During the exam, the board said "anti-social elements" had spread a rumour using an edited Telegram document. On 18 February it said the "unverified news" would be "thoroughly verified" The Wire. By 20 February it had formed an internal committee National Herald, and it asked for evidence by 6 pm on 23 February Scroll. On 23 February Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya dismissed the allegations as a Samajwadi Party agenda The Wire.

On 24 February the government cancelled the exam. It ordered a re-test within six months, free UPSRTC bus travel for candidates, and an STF probe PTI via ETV Bharat.

There can be no compromise with the sanctity of examinations. Those who toy with the hard work of youngsters will not be spared under any circumstances.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on X, 24 Feb 2024 (PTI translation)

Government's position The home department said it acted "keeping in mind the highest standards of sanctity and transparency". It told the board to "register an FIR at the level where laxity has been committed" PTI via Tribune.

On 2 March it cancelled both sessions of the RO/ARO exam, citing "the evidence provided to the government and the report available by the Commission". It ordered a re-exam within six months and an STF probe PTI via Tribune. Days later board chairperson Renuka Mishra was removed and put on the "wait list", and Director Vigilance Rajiv Krishna took charge. PTI reported this on 5 March PTI via Tribune Deccan Herald.

What the opposition said

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav backed the Prayagraj protest and said the BJP did not want to finish recruitments because it would then have to give jobs and reservation National Herald. After the cancellation he said:

Advertising job vacancies just for show, charging fees worth billions of rupees, allowing papers to be leaked and then pretending to cancel them. This game will prove very costly for BJP this time.
Akhilesh Yadav, 24 Feb 2024 (translated, via Scroll)

Rahul Gandhi called the cancellation a "big victory for student power and youth unity" Scroll. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanded a CBI inquiry The Mooknayak.

Timeline

17-18 Feb 2024
Constable exam
244 people held, per police PTI.
23 Feb 2024
Eco Garden and UPPSC protests
Rallies in Lucknow and Prayagraj The Mooknayak.
24 Feb 2024
Exam cancelled
Re-exam and STF probe ordered PTI.
2 Mar 2024
RO/ARO exam cancelled
Both sessions scrapped PTI.
Mar-Apr 2024
Arrests
Three TCI men held on 14 March, Mishra on 3 April and Atri on 10 April PTI via Outlook IANS.
23-31 Aug 2024
Re-exam
Five days, 1,174 centres PTI.
15 Jun 2025
Appointment letters
60,244 recruits in Lucknow IANS.

Both accounts

Aspirants' and opposition account

Candidates said the paper was sold hours before the exam and that they had "ample proof" The Mooknayak. Akhilesh Yadav said the government first denied the leak and gave way only "to avoid a historic defeat in the elections" The Wire.

Police and government account

Police said most of those held during the exam were stopped before they could cheat PTI. The government said it cancelled the exam once it had the facts, to protect its "sanctity" PTI via Tribune. The STF later blamed lax warehouse security by the agency that ran the exam The Quint.

What the STF investigation found

On 15 March 2024 DGP Prashant Kumar said the paper leaked on its way from a printing press to a strong room, while it was held at a warehouse in Ahmedabad. Three current and former employees of the transport firm were arrested in Ghaziabad: Abhishek Kumar Shukla, Shivam Giri and Rohit Kumar Pandey PTI via Outlook. By then the state had registered 178 cases and arrested 396 people. Police alleged that Ravi Atri promised the three Rs 5 lakh, rising to Rs 20 lakh Business Today.

The STF arrested Rajeev Nayan Mishra in Greater Noida on 3 April IANS. It arrested Atri on 10 April, in Gautam Buddha Nagar according to IANS and in Meerut according to Outlook IANS via Eastern Mirror Outlook.

In June 2024 the STF filed a 900-page chargesheet against 18 accused. An STF officer told The Quint that there was no eyewitness, but there was circumstantial evidence such as hotel records and bank transfers. The STF also said 1,000 to 1,500 candidates were allegedly gathered at a Gurugram resort to study the paper. The board blacklisted EduTest Solutions, the Gujarat agency that ran the exam The Quint.

The Enforcement Directorate opened a money laundering case based on 178 FIRs in 41 districts IANS via Eastern Mirror. On 19 November 2024 it took Ravi Attri and Subhash Prakash into custody PTI via Deccan Herald. In July 2024 the Allahabad High Court gave Mishra bail in the RO/ARO case, but he stayed in custody over a Gangsters' Act case Law Trend.

The anti-paper-leak law

On 25 June 2024 the cabinet approved the Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Ordinance, 2024 Deccan Herald. It provides two years to life in prison, fines of up to Rs 1 crore and attachment of property, and makes offences non-bailable Scroll. On 30 July 2024 the Assembly passed it as a Bill by voice vote, after rejecting an opposition demand to send it to a Select Committee ETV Bharat.

The re-exam and results

The re-exam ran on 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31 August 2024 at 1,174 centres in 67 districts, watched by STF teams, CCTV and drones. About 4.5 lakh candidates sat on day one, and the DGP said no leak was reported PTI via National Herald. On 21 November 2024, 1,74,316 candidates were called to the physical tests Tribune. The final result came on 13 March 2025 ETV Bharat.

On 15 June 2025 Amit Shah gave appointment letters to 48,196 men and 12,048 women PTI via ETV Bharat. The RO/ARO prelims were re-held on 27 July 2025, with 10.76 lakh registered PTI via Careers360.

Outcome

Exams cancelled: Constable exam (24 Feb 2024) and RO/ARO prelims (2 Mar 2024).
Officials: The board chairperson was removed and the exam agency blacklisted.
Arrests: 396 in 178 cases by mid-March 2024. The STF reported more than 400 by June.
Charges: A 900-page chargesheet against 18 accused and an ED case.
Law: A 2024 Act with penalties up to life imprisonment.

What is still pending

No trial verdict in the leak case or the ED case had been reported by October 2026 in the sources reviewed, and no CBI inquiry was reported. The re-exam missed the six-month deadline by about two months.

Questions people ask

Why was the UP Police constable exam 2024 cancelled?

After candidates protested that the paper had leaked before the 17 and 18 February exam. The STF later said it was stolen from a warehouse in Ahmedabad.

Who leaked the UP Police constable paper?

The STF names Ravi Atri and Rajeev Nayan Mishra as the alleged masterminds. They are among 18 people chargesheeted in June 2024. No conviction had been reported in the sources reviewed.

When was the UP Police re-exam held?

On 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31 August 2024. The final result for 60,244 posts came on 13 March 2025.

What is the punishment for paper leak in Uttar Pradesh?

Under the 2024 Act, offenders face two years to life in prison and fines of up to Rs 1 crore.

Was the RO/ARO exam also cancelled?

Yes, on 2 March 2024. It was held again on 27 July 2025.

UP Police constable paper leak, February 2024: the protests, the cancellation and the re-exam

Key takeaways

Background: the exam

The leak allegations

The protests: Prayagraj and Lucknow

How the government responded

What the opposition said

Timeline

Constable exam

Eco Garden and UPPSC protests

Exam cancelled

RO/ARO exam cancelled

Arrests

Re-exam

Appointment letters