Maharashtra TET paper leak points to an inter-State racket, finds investigation team

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Maharashtra TET paper leak has found that the case appears to be part of an inter-State racket. Of the three arrested accused, two are from Bihar, while the third, identified as Dheeraj Kumar, is from Haryana. Police teams have been dispatched to Bihar, Haryana, and Delhi as the investigation expands.

All the three accused are currently in police custody. Authorities are also examining whether provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) can be invoked against those found guilty.

Police had received a tip-off on the morning of June 27 about an attempt to sell the TET question paper in Bhiwandi.

Acting on the information, a trap was laid in the Kongaon area, where Rajiv Shah, Akash Kumar, and Dheeraj Kumar were apprehended. During the operation, police seized mobile phones, debit and credit cards, cash, and four physical copies of the TET question paper intended for the June 28 examination. Officials from the Maharashtra State Council of Examinations (MSCE) later confirmed that the seized papers matched the original examination papers.

A case was registered at Kongaon Police Station under the Thane City Police Commissionerate.

The accused have been booked under Sections 318(4), 316(5), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 11(1)(2)(3) and 12(1)(2) of the Maharashtra Competitive Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and Sections 6 and 8 of the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at Universities, Boards and Other Specified Examinations Act, 1982.

Priya Shinde, Deputy Commissioner of the MSCE, said candidates do not have to register again for the re-test nor will they need to pay any fee when the test is rescheduled.

School Education Minister Dada Bhuse is facing calls for resignation from the Opposition parties over the paper leak.

He said that a committee headed by the Chief Secretary will be formed to work out modalities of conducting the TET and other State-level examinations through the online mode.

(With PTI inputs)