4 days ago
PMC Denies Paper Leak, Flags Three Candidates’ Malpractice
The Pune Municipal Corporation held a test to hire junior engineers.
Later, a picture of one test question appeared online.
Some people thought this meant the whole question paper had been leaked before the test.
PMC says that did not happen.
It says three candidates secretly captured questions during the examination and used unfair methods.
Investigators compared computer records, answer patterns and security-camera footage.
The three candidates’ results were cancelled, and a police case was filed against them and two venue workers.
Supriya Sule and some exam candidates still want an independent investigation and a new recruitment process.
PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram denied a pre-examination paper leak in the Junior Engineer (Civil) recruitment test.
An image circulated after the document-verification list was published was traced to one candidate’s examination terminal.
IBPS identified three candidates whose response patterns, washroom visits and CCTV footage allegedly indicated in-hall malpractice.
PMC cancelled the three candidates’ scores and candidature, while an FIR was filed against them and two venue functionaries.
Supriya Sule and candidates demanded an independent investigation and questioned whether the irregularity was limited to three people.
- Who
- The Pune Municipal Corporation, IBPS, three identified candidates, two venue functionaries, Supriya Sule and concerned exam aspirants.
- What
- A dispute over whether irregularities in the PMC Junior Engineer (Civil) examination amounted to a paper leak or in-hall malpractice.
- Where
- The examination was held at TCS iON centres, including the ION Digital Zone in Chikalthana, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
- When
- The examination took place on April 22, 23 and 29, 2026; the image circulated after June 19, 2026, when the document-verification list was published.
- Why
- PMC says three candidates captured examination content during the test, while critics seek clarification about how the image left the centre and whether others were involved.
PMC’s Findings
Critics’ Concerns
Nature of the irregularity
PMC’s Findings
PMC says the evidence rules out a paper leak before the examination and instead shows that three candidates captured examination content during the test.
Critics’ Concerns
Supriya Sule and candidates argue that the image’s circulation raises questions about a possible leak or broader compromise and want the recruitment process cancelled or independently examined.
Extent of impact
PMC’s Findings
PMC says the breach was limited to three candidates, their results were cancelled, and the scores of other candidates were unaffected.
Critics’ Concerns
Critics question whether the wrongdoing was limited to three people and seek examination of original response data, server records, device mapping, CCTV footage and audit logs.
Recruitment process
PMC’s Findings
PMC proceeded with appointments after its integrity review and says the process was not compromised before appointments were issued.
Critics’ Concerns
Sule and some aspirants say continuing the recruitment disregards the effort of honest candidates and want a transparent examination conducted afresh.
Key facts
- Applications received
- 41,272 applications were submitted for 169 Junior Engineer (Civil) posts.
- Examination format
- IBPS conducted the online examination in seven sessions over April 22, 23 and 29, 2026.
- Image investigation
- An image showing a question and answer options circulated after the document-verification list was published.
- Candidates flagged
- PMC identified Gajanan Pache, Shivshankar Shelgave and Vishnukant Waghmare.
- Alleged method
- PMC said the candidates’ response logs, washroom visits and CCTV footage indicated examination-level malpractice; police are examining allegations involving camera-equipped spectacles.
- Action taken
- The three candidates’ scores were declared non-genuine and their candidatures were cancelled.
- Appointments
- PMC issued appointment orders to 146 candidates out of 169 vacancies, while some appointments and posts remained pending for verification or eligibility reasons.
Quotes
Pune Municipal Corporation
Civic authority that conducted the recruitment process
“We want the original response data to be checked. If there is a genuine technical explanation, it should come out. If there is an irregularity, responsibility should also be fixed.”
freepressjournal.in
“The PMC has acknowledged that the paper for the junior engineer recruitment was received by only 3 students and has clearly concluded that a paper leak incident occurred.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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