NDTV reported that Karim, desperate to enter the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), had cleared a similar test about two years ago but had then opted to join the Indian Police Service (IPS), because he was inspired by a police officer's character in a 1994 Malayalam movie, 'Commissioner'.
Karim continued studying for the civil services examination conducted by public services recruiting body, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Earlier this year, he cleared the preliminary round.
"Karim handed over his wallet and a cellphone to them from his trouser pockets, apologising for forgetting to leave the handset in his car…But he had concealed another phone and wireless earpieces in his socks and a miniature camera in his shirt," one of the investigating officers told ToI .
"Karim admitted during interrogation that he took photographs of the question paper and sent them to his wife, who relayed the answers to him," the officer added.