Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has recovered a laptop allegedly dumped by MPSC employee Vishweshwar Nakate in a creek at Kharegaon in Navi Mumbai after inquiry into the drug inspector examination paper leak case from Nandurbar began. Investigators are attempting to retrieve deleted data from the device.Police claim Nakate, who was coordinating the exam, had recorded all 294 questions, along with their options, on the laptop. He allegedly handed it to under secretary Abhijit Lendve in MPSC’s parking area. Lendve allegedly gave it to MPSC official Gopal Bhatt, who then gave it to coaching class director Pravin Patil on MPSC premises.The exam for 154 posts was held on March 22, and results were declared in July. MPSC, however, got complaints about a leak, prompting it to approach the Mumbai Crime Branch on July 27 for a probe.On August 25, MPSC cancelled the recruitment process for the Group-B posts after Gaurav Patil from Nandurbar, embittered by the ending of his romantic relationship with his girlfriend Rutuja Patil who had cleared the exam, squealed to the authorities about the exam paper leak.On Wednesday, Rutuja, the seventh accused arrested in the alleged paper leak case, was produced before a special fast-track court, along with six other accused, including her ex-boyfriend Gaurav and father Amrit Patil.This is probably among the first cases before the newly formed special fast-track courts in the city. The Bombay High Court has designated 23 additional special fast-track courts across Maharashtra to ensure speedy trials in examination paper leak and related malpractice cases.The court remanded Rutuja to police custody till September 5, and extended the custody of Nakate, Lendve, Marathe, Pravin, Amrit and Gaurav till September 7.The remand report showed that Rutuja’s phone is yet to be seized as it is relevant on the point of discovery of leakage of question paper. The court stated that in such a case, the reasons given in the remand-report are well founded and the police custody would be justified. Presence of present accused would be necessary with police to facilitate the investigation on discovery of material facts into the offence.The crime branch has sought her custodial interrogation to conduct face-to-face questioning with the other accused and verify their statements.Police told the court that they want to establish the sequence in which the leaked question set allegedly reached Rutuja, who is suspected to be the beneficiary candidate in the case. The crime branch is also probing the roles of the co-accused and their alleged conspiracy in accessing and distributing the question paper before the examination.The court, while extending their custody, observed that the accused had specific and distinguishing roles but appeared to have acted in conspiracy. It noted that a detailed investigation was required and that custodial interrogation was necessary to facilitate the discovery of material facts.
