An X-ray screen at Goa's Dabolim airport has helped expose an alleged exam cheating racket. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel intercepted two passengers bound for Delhi on Saturday, October 10, after finding Bluetooth earpieces, SIM cards and small electronic devices that the men allegedly used to cheat in the IIT Goa non-teaching staff recruitment exam held the same day.
Both men have been handed over to the police, and a case has been registered against them, according to a CISF statement released through the Press Information Bureau.
How the X-ray gave them away
At about 2:25 pm, a passenger booked on Air India Express flight IX-1340 from Goa to Delhi put his handbag through the X-ray machine at the pre-embarkation security check. The screener noticed suspicious objects in the image and sent the bag for a physical search.
Inside, CISF personnel found three electronic devices, two SIM cards and three Bluetooth earpieces. When questioned, the passenger allegedly admitted the gadgets were meant for cheating in exams. He also told officers that an associate travelling with him had already boarded the same flight.
Second man offloaded from the plane
With help from airline staff, the second passenger was taken off the aircraft. His handbag contained one similar electronic device, two Bluetooth earpieces, one SIM card and an admit card for the post of Administrative Assistant. He too allegedly admitted that the device was meant to be used in the exam that day.
Impersonation angle and discarded Aadhaar cards
The case took a more serious turn during questioning. According to CISF, the first passenger disclosed that he had appeared for the exam in place of another candidate. Officers also recovered two Aadhaar cards belonging to other people, which he had allegedly thrown away in the security hold area. He claimed to be a civilian employee of a defence establishment, and CISF said this claim was being verified with the authorities concerned.
Key facts at a glance
| Date | Saturday, October 10, 2026 |
| Place | Goa International Airport, Dabolim |
| Agency | Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) |
| Flight | Air India Express IX-1340, Goa to Delhi |
| Exam | IIT Goa non-teaching staff recruitment exam |
| Items from passenger 1 | 3 devices, 2 SIM cards, 3 Bluetooth earpieces |
| Items from passenger 2 | 1 device, 2 earpieces, 1 SIM card, admit card |
| Other recovery | Two Aadhaar cards of other people |
| Handed over to | Dabolim Airport Police, then Ponda Police |
What the police are doing
Both passengers, along with the devices and documents, were first handed over to the Dabolim airport police station. Since the exam centre falls under the jurisdiction of Ponda police station, they were then handed over to Ponda police. The two were questioned jointly with intelligence agencies, and a case of exam malpractice has been registered. Local police are investigating further. Neither the police nor IIT Goa has publicly named the accused so far.
Why this matters for job aspirants
Recruitment exams for government and institutional jobs draw lakhs of serious candidates who prepare for months. Cases of impersonation and hi-tech cheating, using tiny Bluetooth earpieces linked to hidden devices, undermine that effort and the fairness of the process. In recent years, exam bodies have stepped up frisking, biometric checks and signal jammers at centres, but this case shows how such gadgets can still slip in.
Using another person's identity documents to sit an exam is also a serious matter. Impersonation not only robs a genuine candidate of a fair chance but can also lead to criminal charges for everyone involved, including the person on whose behalf the exam was taken.
It also highlights an unusual line of defence: airport security. The men were caught not at the exam centre but hours later, as they tried to fly out of the state.
What happens next
Investigators are expected to find out who the candidates linked to the recovered Aadhaar cards are, whether more people were involved, and whether the gadgets were used successfully during the exam. IIT Goa may also review the results of candidates connected to the case. Further details are likely once Ponda police complete their initial inquiry.
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