Three detained after STF raids Hajipur cyber cafe in paper leak case

Patna: Maharashtra Special Task Force (STF), assisted by Vaishali police, raided a cyber cafe in Hajipur late on Wednesday as part of its investigation into the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak.

Three people, including the cafe operator, were detained for questioning during the operation.The raid was conducted at a cyber cafe on Kachahari Road and continued until around 1am on Thursday. Police seized digital devices and documents suspected to be linked to the case for forensic examination.Police sources said the Hajipur cyber cafe came under the scanner during the Maharashtra investigation. Investigators suspect it may have been used to prepare or provide fake identity cards, certificates or other documents connected with the examination.

However, police have not officially confirmed its exact role.Town SHO Sikandar Kumar said, “A raid was conducted at the cyber cafe on Kachahari Road in connection with an exam-related investigation underway in Maharashtra.”He said Maharashtra Police were leading the operation while Vaishali police were providing logistical support. Further details would emerge after the investigation is completed.The detained operator’s elder brother said the family had been searching for him since Wednesday evening after he stopped answering phone calls.

“When we reached the cyber cafe, we found that a raid was underway. The investigation team told us Sonu was arrested in connection with the Maharashtra TET paper leak case. They are also searching for my younger brother Vikas, who lives in Patna,” he said.The detained operator, a resident of Sahdei Buzurg in Vaishali, has been running the cyber cafe since 2009. Police suspect links between him and the alleged mastermind from Samastipur district.

Police are also searching another cyber cafe in Patna after the name of the operator’s younger brother surfaced during the questioning of three accused arrested in Maharashtra.More than 4.28 lakh candidates had registered for the Maharashtra TET. The examination was cancelled after the question paper was allegedly leaked about 24 hours before the June 28 test. The investigation now spans multiple states with Maharashtra STF teams continuing searches in Bihar and other locations.