Patna, Oct 20 (IANS): More than 140 people have been arrested in Bihar for impersonation in a statewide written examination for the recruitment of police constables, officials said Monday.

"We have arrested 23 impersonators, including a woman, on Sunday from examination centres in Patna. The arrested people were hired by constable-aspirants to write their exam paper," said Senior Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana.

Police also arrested 21 impersonators in Nalanda, 20 in Bhagalpur, 18 in Nawada, 10 in Banka, nine in Gaya, six each in Rohtas, Khagaria and Madhepura, five each in Lakhisarai and Purnea, three each in Vaishali, Shekhpura, Kaimur and Katihar and one each in Saran and Begusarai districts.

"After their arrest, all of them were presented in local courts and sent to judicial custody for seven days," a police official here said.

Rana said the gang involved in the crime was tech-savvy.

"We have seized bluetooth-enabled cellphones from their possession," he said.

According to police officials, the arrested impersonators said they were paid Rs.3 to 4 lakh each for appearing in the examination.

A sum of Rs.1 lakh had been paid to them as the first instalment and the remaining amount was to be paid after the declaration of the result.

The written exam for the recruitment of nearly 12,000 constables was held at 670 centres across Bihar in which over eight lakh candidates appeared.