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4 clusters · 21 sources · 17 days · First seen · Last updated

MPSC Drug Inspector recruitment paper leak scandal

Overview

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) cancelled the recruitment process for 154 Drug Inspector positions following a major paper leak scandal involving the March 22 screening exam.

Initial investigations by the Mumbai Crime Branch led to the arrest of six individuals, including three MPSC officials: Assistant Section Officers Vishweshwar Dattatraya Nakate and Gopal Bhattu Marathe, and Under Secretary Abhijit Ganpatrao Lendwe. Other detainees included academy director Pravin Dilip Patil and alleged conspirators Amrut Namdeo Patil and Lokesh (alias Gaurav) Rajendra Patil. Investigators identified a scheme where Amrut Patil allegedly orchestrated the leak to benefit his daughter, Rutuja Patil.

Following the initial arrests, police apprehended Rutuja Patil, the seventh-ranked candidate, in Nandurbar. Authorities allege she had prior access to the exam and was instructed to answer 10 questions incorrectly to avoid suspicion of cheating. Subsequent investigations uncovered approximately 270 pages of WhatsApp chats on the mobile phone of co-accused Lokesh. These digital records reportedly detail a deal involving a question bank of 91 questions and a demand for 5 lakh rupees. The chats suggest that Rutuja Patil claimed 78 of the provided questions appeared in the actual test.

In response to the scandal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe to ensure the investigation is brought to its “logical conclusion.” To address systemic issues, a new panel led by senior bureaucrat V Radha will be established to recommend reforms after consulting with students, parents, and teachers. The government is also considering rechecking Group B and Group C examinations from 2025 and publishing examination papers to increase transparency.

Entities

Maharashtra Public Service Commission · Food and Drug Administration · Maharashtra · Mumbai Police · Rutuja Patil

Timeline

  1. about 12 hours ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Maharashtra government announces SIT probe into MPSC paper leak allegations

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an SIT probe and exam rechecking following alleged MPSC paper leaks, including the Drug Inspector examination, to ensure recruitment transparency.

  2. 5 days ago

    [CRIME] 5 sources
    MPSC drug inspector exam leak investigation uncovers 270-page WhatsApp chat

    Crime Branch investigators recovered 270 pages of WhatsApp chats revealing a 91-question leak and a 5 lakh rupee deal in the MPSC drug inspector exam fraud case.

  3. 10 days ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    Mumbai Police arrest MPSC Drug Inspector exam ranker in paper leak case

    Mumbai Police arrested seventh-ranked candidate Rutuja Patil for her involvement in the MPSC Drug Inspector exam paper leak. The MPSC has cancelled the entire recruitment process for the FDA posts.

  4. 17 days ago

    [CRIME] 15 sources
    MPSC cancels Drug Inspector recruitment following paper leak arrests

    The MPSC has cancelled the Drug Inspector recruitment process after a paper leak scandal led to the arrest of six people, including three commission officials and a mastermind teacher.

Sources

aajtak.com · deccanchronicle.com · desitalkchicago.com · edexlive.com · enavabharat.com · english.publictv.in · esakal.com · hindi.news18.com · hindikhabar.com · kalingatv.com · latestly.com · navbharatlive.com · newindianexpress.com · news18.com · newsable.asianetnews.com · samacharnama.com · thebluegrassspecial.com · thecsrjournal.in · thenews21.com · timesnownews.com · tv9hindi.com

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history