Maharashtra TET 2026 Paper Leak: Three Arrested In Bhiwandi, Exam Postponed A Day Before Scheduled Test

Bhiwandi: In a dramatic breakthrough just 24 hours before thousands of candidates were set to appear for the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)-2026, the Bhiwandi Police busted an alleged interstate paper leak syndicate and arrested three men found in possession of the original examination question papers. Investigators said the accused had struck a ₹1.5 crore deal to sell the leaked papers and had already collected an advance payment. The sensational revelation forced the Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) to postpone the June 28 examination, preventing what officials described as a massive breach of the state's recruitment process.

The arrested accused have been identified as Rajive Shah and Akash Kumar, both from Bihar, and Dheeraj Kumar from Haryana. Police believe they are part of a larger interstate network involved in leaking competitive examination papers. The alleged mastermind behind the racket remains absconding, while investigators are pursuing leads across multiple states.

Secret Intelligence Leads to Midnight Trap

According to Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Dudhe, the operation began after Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Pawan Bansode received specific intelligence that a group would arrive in Bhiwandi to deliver and sell the leaked TET question papers.

Acting swiftly, a police team laid a trap within the jurisdiction of Kongaon Police Station during the early hours of Saturday. The three suspects were intercepted and searched, leading to the recovery of four sets of the original Maharashtra TET-2026 question papers, along with mobile phones, debit cards and credit cards.

Officials from the Maharashtra State Council of Examination were immediately called to authenticate the seized papers. After verification confirmed that the recovered papers matched the original examination question paper, police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and arrested all three accused.

Question Papers Transported From Delhi; Advance Payment Already Received

The investigation has revealed that the accused allegedly travelled from Delhi carrying the leaked papers. According to DCP Pawan Bansode, the group had finalised a deal worth ₹1.5 crore for four sets of question papers and had already received an advance payment before being intercepted.

Police are now examining bank transactions, digital communication, mobile phone records and financial trails to identify the source of the leak, trace the money trail and uncover the intended buyers.

20-Member SIT Formed; Multi-State Hunt for Kingpin

Recognising the seriousness of the case, police have constituted a 20-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DCP Pawan Bansode. The team comprises two ACPs, nine Police Inspectors, APIs, PSIs and other investigating officers.

Simultaneous raids are underway in Maharashtra and several other states to trace the absconding mastermind and identify others connected to the organised syndicate. Investigators believe more arrests are imminent.

MSCE Postpones TET; Fake July 6 Notice Sparks Confusion

Following confirmation that the seized papers were genuine, the Maharashtra State Council of Examination postponed the June 28 TET-2026 examination, citing the need to safeguard the integrity, transparency and credibility of the recruitment process.

Soon after the announcement, a fake message claiming that the examination had been rescheduled for July 6, 2026 began circulating widely on social media. Authorities clarified that no fresh examination date has been announced and urged candidates to rely only on official notifications.

Fresh Questions Over Examination Security

The latest paper leak has once again exposed the vulnerability of competitive examinations in India and is likely to intensify scrutiny of recruitment agencies following previous controversies involving national-level entrance tests.

Police are now investigating where the confidential question paper originated, who leaked it, how the interstate syndicate operated and whether more candidates or middlemen were involved. Officials said the investigation is progressing rapidly and hinted that several more arrests are expected in the coming days.

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