The Additional Sessions Court in Ponda has rejected the bail applications of Rakesh Daholiya, 29, and Ankit, 23, who were arrested in connection with an alleged inter-state cheating and impersonation racket linked to the IIT Goa recruitment examination for Administrative Assistant posts.

The examination was held on October 10 at Goa Engineering College in Farmagudi, Ponda. The duo was arrested by Ponda police on October 11 after being intercepted at Dabolim Airport. Investigators allegedly recovered concealed electronic devices, miniature Bluetooth earpieces and SIM cards from them.

According to the investigation, the suspected racket allegedly provided candidates with answers in real time through modified communication devices and a network operating from outside Goa. Daholiya is accused of impersonating a candidate named Vikash, allegedly forging his signature and answering the examination using a Bluetooth earpiece. He had reportedly been promised ₹2 lakh for the operation.

Ankit is accused of paying ₹10 lakh to the alleged syndicate to obtain answers during the examination through a Bluetooth earpiece. The two candidates reportedly secured scores of 75 out of 75 and 74 out of 75, respectively.

Police investigations, including call detail record analysis, allegedly uncovered the involvement of a third suspect who is suspected of impersonating another candidate, Rohit. Investigators also found call patterns that may be linked to a Probationary Officers examination held in Hyderabad on October 4, raising suspicions that the network could have operated across multiple states.

The accused face allegations involving cheating, impersonation, forgery, criminal conspiracy and organised criminal activity. The court rejected their bail pleas, citing the seriousness of the allegations, the suspected organised nature of the operation, its possible wider ramifications and the risk of the accused absconding.