Mumbai Crime Branch Arrests 12th Accused in MPSC Paper Leak Case
Mumbai Police Crime Branch officers have arrested another suspect in connection with the Maharashtra Public Service Commission recruitment examination paper leak case. The latest apprehension brings the cumulative number of individuals taken into custody in the recruitment scandal to twelve. The arrested individual has been identified as Mayur Chandrakant Thakre, taken into custody under a criminal case registered by the Criminal Investigation Department. The criminal investigation centers on the unauthorized compromise of the question paper for the Drug Inspector Group B recruitment examination conducted in March 2026.
In public recruitment reviews, analysts noted that 3 leaked question papers within a single year pointed to structural vulnerabilities in state exam-conducting procedures.
Following paper leak allegations, MPSC cancelled the Drug Inspector recruitment process.
UPPSC enhances security measures for recruitment exams by implementing multi-layer security with digital locks and CCTV monitoring.
Chronology of Institutional Arrests and Intermediaries
Those early arrests included an MPSC undersecretary, two assistant section officers, a private coaching class director, a schoolteacher, and an exam candidate. Subsequent enforcement sweeps in September yielded five more arrests, including candidate Rutuja Patil along with two other examinees and two alleged middlemen. While twelve individuals have been detained to date, police investigators have not publicly disclosed Thakre's precise operational role in leaking the materials.
Student Agitations and Judicial Inquiry Commission
The police crackdowns follow sustained public unrest in Pune, where competitive examination aspirants staged an eleven-day protest. Student groups demanded independent oversight, heightened examination security, and the immediate resignation of senior commission leaders. In response to student pressure, the Maharashtra state government established a high-level inquiry committee headed by retired Justice Dilip Bhosale. The judicial probe has been granted a two-month statutory window to complete its investigation and recommend institutional reforms.
Aspirants protesting in Pune against repeated MPSC paper leaks demanded the filling of 70,000 vacancies and the adoption of a system like Rajasthan's that allows applicants to take four exams for one fee.
Administrative Leadership Reshuffle
MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar proceeded on extended leave following the announcement of the judicial inquiry. Bhimanwar stated that he chose to step aside during the inquiry because he had consistently prioritized professional ethics. According to an official government order, the General Administration Department assigned additional charge of the MPSC chairmanship to existing commission member Satish Baban Waghole. The government order stated that concurrently, the state administration assigned additional charge of MPSC secretary to Mumbai Suburban District Collector Saurabh Katiyar. Katiyar replaces former secretary Mahendra Harpalkar, who was transferred away from the commission amidst mounting student demonstrations.
Reform Roadmap and Future Examination Security
The state administration also appointed senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe to head overhaul initiatives for the examination body. Formal notification for the judicial inquiry committee will be issued following statutory approval from the Governor.