MPSC Paper Leak Row: CJP Backs Agitating Aspirants, Sets Deadline for Action
The anger of aspirants has intensified following the arrest of seven individuals in the MPSC paper leak case. The arrested accused include three MPSC officials and a candidate who secured the seventh rank in the examination.
Mumbai/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Protests by aspirants over alleged irregularities and a question paper leak in Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations are intensifying, with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) now announcing its support for the agitation.
CJP founder Abhijit Dipke has backed the protesting aspirants and demanded the resignation of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar and Secretary Mahendra Harpalkar. The organisation has set September 24 as the deadline for action, warning that it will launch a statewide agitation if the demands are not addressed.
The controversy has raised wider concerns over the transparency and security of the state’s recruitment examination system. Aspirants are also demanding safeguards for upcoming examinations, including the Group-C preliminary examination scheduled for October 2026.
Abhijit Dipke Announces Support
According to a statement issued by the CJP, a group of MPSC aspirants met Abhijit Dipke at his residence in Waluj, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Following the meeting, Dipke announced that he and the CJP would stand with the protesters.
He said the organisation would continue supporting the aspirants until their demand for accountability from the commission’s top officials was addressed.
The CJP has given the government and concerned authorities time until September 24 to take concrete action. If there is no response by then, the organisation plans to travel across Maharashtra and hold protests with aspirants preparing for competitive examinations in different cities.
The development has given the MPSC controversy a political dimension, although the agitation began with students raising concerns over alleged examination irregularities and the reported leak of a question paper.
Drug Inspector Exam at the Centre of Controversy
The immediate trigger for the controversy was the alleged leakage of the question paper for the MPSC Drug Inspector Group-B screening examination.
The examination was held on March 22, 2026. Allegations later emerged that the question paper had reached certain individuals before the examination. Following an investigation, the MPSC cancelled the recruitment process and decided to conduct the examination again.
The Mumbai Crime Branch subsequently began investigating the case. Several people have been arrested, including three MPSC officials and a candidate who secured seventh rank in the examination.
According to the police investigation, the accused allegedly gained access to the question paper before the examination, prepared a separate set and passed it on to unauthorised individuals.
Police have also alleged that the candidate who secured seventh rank had received the paper before the examination and was allegedly advised to deliberately answer 10 questions incorrectly to avoid suspicion.
The allegations are yet to be established in court.
Three MPSC Officials Among Those Arrested
The involvement of MPSC officials has significantly intensified concerns over the commission’s internal examination security mechanism.
The arrested officials include MPSC Under Secretary Abhijit Ganpatrao Lendwe and Assistant Section Officers Vishweshwar Dattatray Nakte and Gopal Bhattu Marathe.
Other accused persons include Pravin Dileep Patil, director of Kautilya Academy in Nandurbar, along with Amrut Namdev Patil and Lokesh alias Gaurav Rajendra Patil. Candidate Rutuja Patil was subsequently arrested in connection with the case.
The arrests have raised questions about the procedures used to prepare, store and transport confidential examination material. Aspirants argue that if a question paper can allegedly be accessed from within the commission’s system, the credibility of the entire recruitment process is at stake.
Protests Spread Across Maharashtra
The agitation has expanded beyond a single city. Large numbers of aspirants protested in Pune, demanding an independent investigation into the alleged paper leak and the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary. Opposition leaders also joined the protests.
Students have raised concerns not only over the Drug Inspector examination but also over alleged irregularities in other examinations and disputed results.
In Nagpur, aspirants associated with the Vidarbha Competitive Examination Coordination Committee demanded a high-level investigation and the resignation of the MPSC chairman. Protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis through the district administration.
In Nashik, hundreds of aspirants gathered outside the district collector’s office and demanded an independent investigation into the alleged paper leak. Some protesters also sought an inquiry by an agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The protests reflect growing demands for greater transparency and accountability in the state’s competitive examination system.
What Are the Aspirants Demanding?
The protesters’ demands go beyond the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary.
They have sought a detailed investigation into the alleged Drug Inspector question paper leak and demanded that the preliminary investigation report of the Mumbai Crime Branch be made public.
They are also demanding a forensic audit of examinations conducted during the tenure of accused MPSC official Abhijit Lendwe.
In addition, aspirants have raised questions over the evaluation of answer sheets in the 2025 State Services Main Examination and Agriculture Services Examination. They want alleged irregularities in these examinations and suspicious results in other recruitment tests to be investigated.
Another major demand concerns the upcoming Group-C preliminary examination scheduled for October 2026. Aspirants want the examination to be conducted under strict security and with complete transparency so that candidates can participate without concerns over question paper leaks or other irregularities.
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MPSC Chairman Rejects Allegations
MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar has rejected allegations linking him personally to the Drug Inspector examination controversy.
In a statement issued on September 2, Bhimanwar said the alleged irregularity occurred in January 2026, before he assumed charge as chairman. He said he took the oath of office on February 18 and formally assumed charge on March 3.
Bhimanwar said the commission had taken the matter seriously and had lodged a complaint with the police. He also said an internal high-level committee had been formed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The chairman’s position and the aspirants’ demand for accountability remain two central aspects of the ongoing dispute.
Black Powder Thrown at MPSC Secretary
The controversy escalated further on September 11 when black powder was allegedly thrown at MPSC Secretary Mahendra Harpalkar at the commission’s headquarters in Navi Mumbai.
Police arrested three people in connection with the incident.
The incident occurred amid the ongoing protests over the alleged paper leak. Several student organisations condemned the act, saying that while the examination issue was serious, protests should remain democratic and peaceful.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also cautioned against attempts to give a political colour to the agitation. He said the government was taking the concerns of aspirants seriously and would continue action against those responsible for irregularities while working to strengthen the examination system.
Government Moves to Review Examination System
Amid the protests, the Maharashtra government has announced measures to review and improve the recruitment examination system.
Following a meeting with aspirants, Chief Minister Fadnavis assured them that steps would be taken regarding re-evaluation of answer sheets, investigation of paper leak cases and strengthening of examination procedures.
The government has also constituted a high-level committee headed by senior bureaucrat V. Radha to review the examination system. The committee has been tasked with recommending measures to make recruitment examinations more transparent, secure and candidate-friendly.
The committee is seeking suggestions from students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders. It is also visiting different revenue divisions to understand the concerns of candidates and examine the functioning of the examination system.
The committee is expected to visit Nagpur on September 16 as part of this exercise.
What Could CJP’s Entry Mean for the Protest?
The CJP’s decision to join the MPSC aspirants’ agitation could increase pressure on the Maharashtra government and the commission.
Dipke has previously been associated with protests concerning competitive examinations and has now announced that the CJP will stand with MPSC aspirants until their demands are addressed.
The organisation has warned of a statewide campaign if the government does not act by September 24. This could potentially expand protests in Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and other parts of Maharashtra.
The government, meanwhile, has already initiated a review of the examination system and constituted a committee for reforms. The key question now is whether aspirants will accept the government’s assurances and proposed reforms or continue demanding the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary.
With the October Group-C preliminary examination approaching, ensuring confidence in the examination process has become a major challenge for the commission and the state government.