Russian Hacker Arrested for Helping Indian Students Cheat on JEE-Main Exam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India, which is similar to the American FBI, has announced the arrest of a Russian citizen accused of hacking the platform used for the JEE-Main exam in 2021. This exam is required for admission to various engineering colleges across India.

According to law enforcement, the suspect was detained by immigration control at Delhi International Airport upon arrival from Kazakhstan. While the official press release did not disclose the Russian’s name, local media reports identify him as Mikhail Shargin.

Details of the Hacking Incident

Indian authorities allege that the suspect was involved in hacking the iLeon platform in September 2021, which was used to administer the standardized JEE test. The platform was reportedly compromised to provide remote access to a group of individuals who then took the exam on behalf of students.

This form of cheating did not come cheap: reports indicate that each student paid approximately $14,700 to $18,400 to have someone else take the JEE-Main exam for them.

Investigation and Seizures

The CBI reports that, as part of the investigation, searches were conducted at 19 different locations, including the cities of Delhi, Pune, Jamshedpur, Indore, and Bangalore. Authorities confiscated 25 laptops, seven desktop computers, and other evidence during these raids.