Bhiwandi: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)-2026 paper leak has widened its crackdown by arresting three more alleged members of the interstate syndicate, taking the total number of arrests in the high-profile case to seven. Investigators claim the network stretched across Haryana, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, while the alleged mastermind, Bijender Kumar Gupta, continues to evade arrest despite an intensive nationwide manhunt.
The newly arrested accused—Kapil Krishna Dahiya of Haryana, and Sonu Kumar Singh and Mithun Kumar Singh, both residents of Samastipur in Bihar—were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate S. M. Sutar in Bhiwandi. Seeking further custodial interrogation to unravel the wider conspiracy and trace additional suspects, the SIT requested 10 days of police custody. The court remanded all three accused to police custody till July 9.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr Pawan Bansod Kapil Krishna Dahiya is a close associate of alleged kingpin Bijender Kumar Gupta and is believed to have played a significant role in the execution of the paper leak conspiracy.
Investigators said preliminary findings indicate that Dahiya was in possession of the leaked TET question paper and had travelled to Maharashtra along with Gupta before the scheduled examination. Police said Dahiya reached Bhiwandi on June 25 with co-accused Dheeraj Balraj Singh, who had already been arrested in the case.
The following day, June 26, Dahiya allegedly hired an Ola cab from Bhiwandi to Pune Railway Station, while the driver returned to Bhiwandi. Investigators suspect he travelled to Pune to negotiate the sale of the leaked examination paper.
However, on June 27, Bhiwandi Police arrested the first three accused in the case, triggering panic among members of the alleged syndicate. Upon learning about the arrests, Dahiya allegedly rushed to Mumbai Airport and fled the state. After days of technical surveillance and intelligence-based tracking, the SIT finally apprehended him from Pathankot. Officials believe his interrogation could provide crucial leads regarding the operational structure of the racket and the whereabouts of the absconding mastermind.
The investigation has also revealed that Mithun Kumar Singh, an Ola cab driver from Samastipur, Bihar, is the brother-in-law of Bijender Kumar Gupta. Police claim he remained in direct contact with Gupta throughout the conspiracy and actively assisted in coordinating various aspects of the operation.
The SIT is now examining Mithun's exact role in arranging logistics, facilitating the movement of accused persons and managing other operational activities linked to the alleged paper leak network.
The third accused, Sonu Kumar Singh, has been accused of arranging forged identity documents for Gupta. According to investigators, Sonu procured fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and driving licences, which were subsequently used to obtain SIM cards allegedly utilised for coordinating the activities of the syndicate while concealing the identities of its members.
Investigators believe the creation of forged identities formed part of a carefully planned strategy to evade law enforcement agencies and operate the network without detection. The SIT is now attempting to identify other individuals involved in preparing the forged documents.
During the investigation, police recovered a substantial cache of incriminating material from the accused. The seizure includes eight PVC driving licences, an RC book, two PAN cards, a Maharashtra Government wireless communication permit, and a 33-page compilation of question papers covering multiple subjects in Hindi, English and Marathi.
The seized documents, electronic devices and digital evidence have been sent for forensic examination. Investigators expect the forensic analysis to reveal crucial details regarding financial transactions, communication channels and the identities of additional members of the interstate syndicate.
With the latest arrests, the total number of accused arrested in the case has risen to seven. Those in custody include Rajiv Saw, Akash Kumar, Dheeraj Balraj Singh, Suman Kumari Gupta (wife of alleged kingpin Bijender Kumar Gupta), Kapil Krishna Dahiya, Sonu Kumar Singh and Mithun Kumar Singh.
Despite the progress made by investigators, alleged mastermind Bijender Kumar Gupta remains absconding. A Look Out Circular (LOC) has already been issued against him. Police suspect he is frequently changing locations to avoid arrest.
DCP Dr Pawan Bansod said multiple SIT teams are conducting coordinated raids across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Delhi, while investigators continue to analyse call detail records, banking transactions, digital footprints and other technical evidence to track Gupta and other absconding suspects.
Officials believe the case extends far beyond a local examination leak and points towards a well-organised interstate network involved in systematically compromising competitive recruitment examinations. Preliminary findings suggest members of the syndicate may have been active in other examination-related offences as well, prompting investigators to expand the scope of the probe.
The SIT expects fresh disclosures during the custodial interrogation of the newly arrested accused. Investigators are working to establish how the confidential question paper was leaked, identify everyone who received access to it, determine the money trail behind the operation and expose every individual associated with the alleged racket.
Police officials indicated that further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses. For now, the SIT's primary objective remains the arrest of absconding alleged kingpin Bijender Kumar Gupta and the complete dismantling of what investigators describe as a sophisticated interstate examination paper leak syndicate.
