Mumbai: A special court has rejected the bail plea of Gaurav Rajendra Patil (26) in the 2026 Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) drug inspector paper leak case, observing that he could not be treated as a whistleblower at this stage as he allegedly retained leaked questions for four months and discussed their possible sale.Special judge Shayana Patil said the investigation was still in progress and Gaurav’s alleged role required further scrutiny. The court held that the material collected so far showed the case was “not a matter of mere exchange of any expected question bank on WhatsApp”, but part of a wider transaction to favour candidates for pecuniary benefit.The court also held that the alleged offence struck at the confidentiality and sanctity of competitive examinations. “It has adversely affected the youth honestly contesting the public competitive examinations with dreams of securing good employment,” the judge said.The judge further stated that the offence adversely affected the public interest and eroded society’s faith in institutions like MPSC. “It is the offence of misuse and manipulation of the competitive exam-system at the hands of responsible persons/public servants inside the system with the help of private persons outside the system like the present accused,” the judge said.The case concerns alleged leakage of questions for MPSC examination for 154 drug inspector posts advertised on July 29, 2025, and conducted on March 22, 2026. According to the prosecution, Vishveshvar Nakate, an MPSC-appointed examination coordinator, allegedly stole 294 questions prepared by experts and handed them to Abhijeet Lendve, an under secretary, in MPSC building’s parking area. Lendve allegedly passed the question bank to Gopal Marathe, who gave it to Pravin Patil. The set allegedly reached candidate Rutuja Patil through her father and co-accused, and she forwarded it to Gaurav on WhatsApp two days before the examination.Gaurav emailed MPSC on July 21, alleging he had received 294 questions from a friend on March 20, and that about 78 appeared in the exam. He also alleged that Rutuja, who sent him the question set, ranked seventh in the merit list.The court noted that Patil later withdrew the complaint, saying no paper had been leaked and that his earlier allegation was made “for sake of mischief or fun”. The judge said the contradictory stand was prima facie indicative of lack of veracity and sincerity.Patil argued that he was the original complainant and a whistleblower. He claimed he was only a passive recipient of WhatsApp messages, and was neither a candidate nor a beneficiary and had no role in any conspiracy. The prosecution opposed the bail, citing chats containing phrases such as “Paper bhetla”, “80 questions fix yetil”, “Paper devu ka tula”, “Viral kuthe karu nako” and “Viku ka mi” “(Got the paper. 80 questions are guaranteed to come. Should I give you the paper? Don’t make it viral anywhere. Shall I sell it?”The court said the exchanges indicated possible misuse. It said Patil waited four months to complain and could be treated as a whistle-blower only if he had immediately reported receipt without discussing circulation or sale.
