Dilip Kumar Prasad fields reporters’ queries outside the vigilance court in Ranchi last week. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, Feb. 9: The state vigilance bureau today began interrogation of former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) chairman Dilip Kumar Prasad in a bid to uncover the modus operandi followed by him and other members of the commission to appoint “undeserving” candidates to various state services between 2004 and 2009.

The vigilance court, Ranchi, has granted a seven-day police remand of the former JPSC chief allowing the vigilance bureau to interrogate him in connection with 10 cases filed by it in what has now come to be known as the appointments scam.

“We have formed a team to interrogate Prasad. The former JPSC chairman has been brought from Birsa Munda Central Jail and is being quizzed at the vigilance bureau headquarters at Audrey House. The interrogation will continue,” M.V. Rao, inspector-general (vigilance) told The Telegraph.

Rao pointed out that the bureau was building up heat on the other absconding JPSC members, including Radha Govind Nagesh, Shanti Devi and Gopal Singh, who had apparently gone underground to evade arrest ever since FIRs were lodged against them on June 9 last year. The bureau has already obtained orders from the vigilance court to seize the properties of these absconding commission members, Rao added.

Vigilance insiders revealed that the former JPSC chief was being quizzed on numerous irregularities perpetrated by the commission every time examinations were conducted by it. In these exams, the commission members flouted norms to randomly appoint candidates to state civil and other services. Prasad surrendered before the vigilance court on February 4.