5 days ago
MPSC Drug Inspector Leak Probe Traces 294 Questions
Police are investigating whether questions for a government examination were leaked before the test.
They say 294 questions were copied and passed through several people.
The questions allegedly reached a candidate two days before the examination.
Police say all 100 questions in the test came from that larger set.
Six people, including three Maharashtra Public Service Commission officials, have been arrested.
A WhatsApp chat is being examined as possible evidence, but its authenticity and meaning still need to be verified.
The commission canceled the examination after complaints about the alleged leak.
Candidates will have to take a new examination.
Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested six people, including three Maharashtra Public Service Commission officials, over the alleged leak.
Police allege that a confidential 294-question set moved through officials, a coaching director and intermediaries before reaching a candidate.
Investigators say all 100 examination questions were selected from the set, which Rutuja Patil allegedly received two days before the test.
The March 22, 2026 examination was held for 154 posts, with about 44,500 applicants; Rutuja allegedly attempted 91 questions and correctly answered 77.
The Maharashtra Public Service Commission canceled the recruitment process on August 26 and will conduct the examination again.
- Who
- Mumbai Crime Branch investigators, six arrested people including three Maharashtra Public Service Commission officials, and other people allegedly involved in distributing the questions.
- What
- An alleged leak and sale of a confidential 294-question set for the Drug Inspector, Group-B recruitment examination.
- Where
- The examination was conducted at centers across Maharashtra’s six revenue divisions; investigators allege that parts of the question chain involved MPSC offices, Nashik and Nandurbar.
- When
- The questions were allegedly shared on March 20, 2026; the examination was held on March 22, 2026, and the recruitment process was canceled on August 26.
- Why
- The Maharashtra Public Service Commission canceled the process after complaints and a preliminary investigation raised concerns that examination questions had been leaked.
Investigators’ Allegations
Claims Requiring Verification
Gaurav Patil’s role
Investigators’ Allegations
Police allege that Gaurav Patil benefited from the leaked questions and shared them with Rutuja Patil, despite later informing the MPSC about the suspected leak.
Claims Requiring Verification
Gaurav reportedly claimed that he did not share the questions with his brother because of sibling rivalry; investigators are verifying his account and his brother’s access.
WhatsApp conversation
Investigators’ Allegations
Investigators cite an alleged chat in which Rutuja discussed receiving questions in advance, the number that appeared in the examination and a ₹5 lakh demand.
Claims Requiring Verification
The article states that the authenticity and context of the WhatsApp conversation, along with the prior-access allegations, still require independent verification.
Extent of the leak
Investigators’ Allegations
Police suspect the coaching director may have sold the 294-question set to additional candidates and are investigating how many people received it.
Claims Requiring Verification
No final number of other recipients or beneficiaries has been established in the reported investigation.
Key facts
- Examination
- Drug Inspector, Group-B screening examination
- Posts
- 154 recruitment posts
- Applicants
- About 44,500 candidates
- Alleged question set
- 294 confidential questions
- Examination date
- March 22, 2026
- Arrests
- Six people, including three MPSC officials
- Cancellation
- The MPSC canceled the recruitment process on August 26 and plans a fresh examination
Sources
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