MPSC exam leaked in March, order CBI probe: Rohit; commission says will file complaint

Mumbai/Pune: On the heels of nationwide CJP protests over the NEET paper leak, NCP (SP) MLA

Rohit Pawar on Monday alleged that students of a coaching class in Nandurbar had got access to 90% of the questions two days before Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC)’s FDA drug inspector (B) recruitment exam on March 22. He said it was likely that the paper-setter was involved and demanded a CBI probe.

MPSC chief Vivek Bhimanwar said a police complaint would be lodged and a detailed inquiry conducted. He said one Gaurav Patil had emailed a complaint to MPSC on July 21 but retracted it on July 26. “He sent us an email saying he had written a false complaint because he did not get selected and felt there would be a long gap before the next exam.” He said police would now have to examine both Patil and another candidate, Rishikesh Gangurde, who had made the complaint viral. “It’s important that the transparent image of MPSC is maintained,” said Bhimanwar. Both had been called to the MPSC office but refused to turn up, he said.

Pawar alleged that the paper was leaked to candidates of Kautilya Academy in Nandurbar. “A fee of Rs 12 lakh was paid for the paper, of which Rs 5 lakh was paid in advance.”

He said the questions were shared on WhatsApp, and one student downloaded them before they were deleted and forwarded them to another person.

Bhimanwar said 31,000 of the 45,000-odd applicants had appeared for the exam. The result was declared on June 12 and interviews conducted till July 22. The provisional merit list was declared on July 22. However, a day prior, MPSC got an email that the paper had leaked and one candidate had benefited from it. The commission asked for proof and on July 23, the complainant sent an email with screenshots of applicants and said those revealed that questions were received before the exam. However, on July 26, he sent another email retracting the complaint.

Stepping up the heat, Pawar and other MVA parties—Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT)—alleged that several recruitment exams in Maharashtra, including those for TET, NEET, SRPF, HSC chemistry, water conservation, public works department, kotwal, talathi and Mahagenco, had faced paper leak allegations in recent years. “When I raised the issue of the talathi exam leak in the assembly, revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil threatened to lodge an FIR against me. If we do not get answers on what has been done by Aug-end, we will launch an agitation,” said Pawar.

State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said, “Recently, the TET paper was leaked and govt faced the embarrassment of cancelling the exam. There are allegations that a racket is active in the state which takes money to increase candidates’ percentile in MHT-CET so that they can get admissions in better educational institutions.” Congress said its agitation over the NEET paper leak will continue as it had demanded criminal action against former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Deputy leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) Sushma Andhare questioned why MPSC came out with a response only on Monday when it had got the complaint earlier.

Meanwhile, CM Devendra Fadnavis defended Pradhan, praising his education reforms, including National Education Policy.

(With inputs from Vijay V Singh)