TET Paper Leak: CM Fadnavis Orders SIT Probe, Exam Postponed

In a significant development following the leak of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) question paper, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the immediate formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The decision comes after reports emerged regarding the compromise of the examination scheduled for June 28. The SIT will be headed by the Joint Commissioner of Police of Thane, Punjabrao Ugale, who will lead the comprehensive investigation into the security breach and identify the culprits behind this organized crime.

High Level Coordination and Directives

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken a very serious view of the incident, emphasizing that the future of thousands of candidates can't be jeopardized by such fraudulent activities. To ensure a swift and thorough investigation, the Chief Minister held detailed discussions with School Education Minister Dada Bhuse and the Director General of Police (DGP) Sadanand Date. During these consultations, the CM issued strict instructions to take the most stringent possible action against all individuals involved in the paper leak. The government has made it clear that no one, regardless of their position, will be spared if found guilty of compromising the integrity of the state examinations.

Police Action and Detentions in Bhiwandi

The investigation gained momentum when the Thane police received a tip-off about suspicious activities in the Bhiwandi area, while acting on this intelligence, a police team led by Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Dudhe laid a trap in the Kongaon region. The operation was successful, resulting in the detention of 3 suspects who were allegedly attempting to sell the question papers for the upcoming TET Exam 2026. The police had received specific information that some individuals were arriving in Bhiwandi on Sunday with the intention of selling the papers to desperate candidates.

Evidence Seized and Verification Process

During the search of the detained suspects, the police recovered a significant amount of incriminating evidence. The seized items included 4 sets of question papers for the TET examination, along with mobile phones, debit cards, credit cards, and a certain amount of cash. To verify the authenticity of these documents, senior officials from the Education Department were summoned. After a careful and detailed examination, the education department officials confirmed that the 4 question papers recovered from the suspects were indeed the original papers intended for the examination scheduled for June 28.

Postponement of Examination Across the State

Following the confirmation of the paper leak by the police and the education department, the Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) took the decision to postpone the TET exam. The examination, which was slated to take place on June 28 across 1028 examination centers in Maharashtra, has been put on hold until further notice. This decision was taken to maintain the fairness of the selection process and to ensure that no candidate gains an unfair advantage through leaked materials. The MSCE acted based on the facts presented by the Bhiwandi police investigation.

Ongoing Investigation and Future Course

The police have officially registered a case against the three detained individuals and are currently interrogating them to uncover the larger network involved in this racket. Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Dudhe stated that the investigation is focused on determining the scale of the leak and identifying any other accomplices or masterminds. He reiterated that anyone found to be part of this paper leak network will face the full force of the law. The SIT under Punjabrao Ugale is expected to look into the source of the leak and suggest measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.