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Mumbai Police Arrests 12th Person in MPSC Drug Inspector Exam Paper Leak Case
Reported by Faizan Khan (Staff Writer) · The Hindu - National ·
Reported by one source so far
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsMumbai Police arrested another accused person on Monday, October 12, 2026, taking the total number of arrests in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission paper leak case to 12. The Crime Branch arrested Mayur Chandrakant Thakre in connection with a case registered under the Criminal Investigation Department. DCP (Detection) Raj Tilak Roshan stated that the accused was produced before a court and remanded to police custody until October 17.
Details of the Case
The case involves the alleged leak of the question paper for the MPSC Drug Inspector (Group B) recruitment examination held in March 2026. Police previously arrested six people in August, including an MPSC undersecretary, two assistant section officers, a coaching class director, a schoolteacher, and a candidate. Subsequent arrests in September included candidate Rutuja Patil and four others, consisting of two candidates and two alleged middlemen, bringing the total to 11 before the latest arrest. Authorities have not yet disclosed Thakre's exact role or his specific links to the other accused individuals.
Protests and Government Action
The arrests took place during widespread protests by MPSC aspirants in Pune over exam irregularities, recruitment delays, and demands for transparency. Protesters also demanded the removal of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, while various student groups raised competing demands regarding the exam pattern. In response to the agitation, the State government announced an inquiry on Monday led by senior IAS officer and FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, following which protesters called off their agitation. MPSC chairman Bhimanwar went on leave after the inquiry was announced.
Context
Paper leaks and exam irregularities in major public service recruitment tests often trigger large-scale student protests because thousands of candidates spend years preparing for these competitive government positions. Government inquiries and high-level committees are standard administrative responses used to investigate system flaws and restore trust when recruitment processes face public outcry.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
The Mumbai Crime Branch arrested Mayur Chandrakant Thakre, making him the 12th person detained in the investigation into the leaked question paper for the MPSC Drug Inspector exam held in March 2026. This followed widespread protests by students in Pune demanding transparency and accountability in state recruitment exams.
Why It Matters
Recruitment exam leaks severely damage the trust of lakhs of young aspirants who invest significant time, effort, and money into preparing for stable government jobs. When question papers are compromised, it delays crucial hiring processes, creates administrative chaos, and forces public servants and political leaders to intervene to restore order and credibility to public institutions.
What Happens Next
The newly formed inquiry headed by senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe will investigate the systemic irregularities within the MPSC recruitment framework. Meanwhile, police custody for the latest accused runs until October 17 as the Crime Branch continues to probe deeper connections and roles within the leakage network.
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