Lucknow: A railway technician was arrested after allegedly attempting to impersonate a friend in an Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) examination in Hazratganj, but was caught when biometric iris verification failed to match, police said on Monday.The accused, identified as Jaishankar Tripathi (37), a Railways technician posted in Kanpur Dehat, allegedly appeared in the health education officer (screening) Examination-2025 held at National PG College on Sunday, said ACP Hazratganj Rajneesh Verma.Police said Tripathi had agreed to take the test on behalf of Shashank Kumar Mishra for ₹10 lakh, with the objective of helping Mishra qualify and secure the govt post.According to investigators, Tripathi entered the examination centre using forged identity documents. He allegedly took Mishra’s voter ID card and replaced the original photograph with his own to pose as the registered candidate and gain access to the examination hall.Officials became suspicious during biometric verification procedures conducted at the centre. The static magistrate reportedly noticed that the iris scan did not match the data linked to the candidate’s registration. After the examination, the suspect was asked to produce identity documents, but he allegedly refused.He was questioned in the presence of the static and sector magistrates, centre authorities, police personnel and commission-appointed officials. During questioning, Tripathi allegedly revealed his real identity and admitted to appearing in place of Mishra, police said.Tripathi was detained on Oct 4. An FIR has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination Act, 2024. Police said the investigation is continuing to determine Mishra’s role and whether others were involved.
