MUMBAI: Police on Wednesday arrested six persons, including three Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) officials, in connection with the alleged leak of the 2026 Drug Inspector (Group-B) screening examination question paper, following which the recruitment process was cancelled.The Mumbai Crime Branch arrested the accused, including an under secretary of the commission, officials said, news agency PTI reported.
Six arrested in MPSC paper leak case
The MPSC on Tuesday announced that it would conduct a fresh examination for the Drug Inspector Group-B posts under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), citing the need to ensure a fair and equal opportunity for candidates and maintain the integrity and transparency of the recruitment process.As a result of the cancellation, candidates who had cleared the screening examination and appeared for interviews will also have to take the fresh examination.A total of 485 candidates had been found eligible for appointment, PTI reported.The arrested accused were identified as MPSC assistant section officers Vishweshwar Dattatraya Nakate and Gopal Bhattu Marathe, MPSC under secretary Abhijit Ganpatrao Lendwe, Kautilya Academy director Pravin Dilip Patil, and alleged co-conspirators Amrut Namdeo Patil and Lokesh alias Gaurav Rajendra Patil.
How was MPSC question paper allegedly leaked?
According to Crime Branch officials, the accused allegedly accessed the questions before the examination, compiled them into a separate set and circulated them among unauthorised persons, PTI reported.The case relates to the offline screening examination conducted on March 22 for Drug Inspector (Group-B) posts under the FDA.Police said the question papers had been prepared by experts under strict confidentiality protocols, but the accused allegedly breached the process and obtained the questions before the examination.A preliminary inquiry confirmed a breach of confidentiality in the MPSC examination process.Following a complaint by Mangesh Desai, a police inspector attached to the Crime Branch’s Property Cell, an FIR was registered on Tuesday.The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at Competitive Examinations Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged offences including cheating, criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy and corruption by public servants.The six accused were produced before a Mumbai sessions court, which remanded them to police custody until September 2.
Complaints received after interview process
The MPSC had earlier received complaints alleging irregularities in the screening examination.According to the commission, some candidates claimed they had received the question paper or questions before the examination and that the material was subsequently circulated through social media and other electronic platforms.The recruitment process began with an advertisement issued on July 29, 2025.The screening examination was held offline at six divisional headquarters across Maharashtra.The examination result was declared on June 12, with 506 candidates eligible for interviews.Of these, 488 candidates appeared for interviews held between July 1 and 22.The MPSC subsequently published a provisional general merit list of 488 candidates, of whom 485 were declared eligible for appointment, PTI reported.However, complaints about the screening examination were received between July 22 and 26 through emails from candidates and public representatives.The complaints alleged that some candidates had received the question paper or questions before the examination and that the material had been circulated electronically.
Opposition questions paper leak, cancellation
The alleged paper leak also triggered criticism from the Opposition.NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar alleged that the leaked question paper was sold to candidates for Rs 40 lakh each and demanded that the MPSC chairman take moral responsibility and resign.A BJP leader said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had promised a thorough investigation and strict action against those found guilty.State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal accused the government of running a “bulldozer over the dreams” of thousands of young people.“After NEET, TET, Talathi and CBSE paper leaks, now the MPSC drug inspector examination has also been found to be compromised. This is like running a bulldozer over the dreams of thousands of young people,” Sapkal said.Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said cancelling the recruitment process was a victory for candidates who had protested against the alleged leak.Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande also questioned the timing of the police action.“When the government knew that the paper got leaked, why was an FIR not registered in this case immediately?” he asked.(With agency inputs)
