The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested six people, including three Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) officials and the director of a private coaching institute, in connection with the alleged leak of questions from the Drug Inspector, Group-B recruitment examination held in March 2026.
Investigators are now examining how confidential questions allegedly moved out of the MPSC examination system, with the role of the coaching institute and possible distribution of the leaked material also under scrutiny.
Six arrested in MPSC examination leak case
The Mumbai Crime Branch arrested six people on August 26 in connection with the alleged question paper leak. The accused include three MPSC officials, the director of a private coaching institute and two others.
The accused have been identified as Vishweshwar Dattatray Nakate, an assistant section officer with the MPSC; Abhijit Ganpatrao Lande, an under-secretary with the commission; Gopal Bhau Marathe, another assistant section officer with the MPSC; Pravin Dilip Patil, director of Kotilya Academy in Nandurbar; Amrut Namdev Patil; and Lokesh alias Gaurav Rajendra Patil.
All six were arrested on August 26 and produced before a Mumbai court. The court remanded them to police custody until September 2.
Case linked to Drug Inspector recruitment examination
The case relates to the Drug Inspector, Group-B recruitment examination conducted by the MPSC for the Food and Drug Administration department on March 22, 2026.
According to the police investigation, questions prepared by experts for the examination were allegedly obtained illegally before the test. A separate question paper was subsequently prepared using those questions and allegedly made available to other individuals through unauthorised means.
The alleged leak came to light during an inquiry into the examination process.
Following the inquiry, a case was registered at Colaba police station on August 25 on the complaint of Police Inspector Mangesh Ganpatrao Desai of the Property Cell.
Probe focuses on how confidential questions were accessed
Investigators are now trying to establish the exact chain through which the confidential questions allegedly moved out of the examination system.
The involvement of MPSC officials among those arrested has brought the handling and security of confidential examination material under scrutiny. Investigators are examining how the questions were accessed and subsequently transferred outside the authorised examination process.
Police are also investigating the role of the private coaching institute allegedly linked to the case.
Coaching institute link under investigation
The Crime Branch is probing the role of Kotilya Academy in Nandurbar, whose director Pravin Dilip Patil is among those arrested.
Investigators are seeking to determine whether the leaked material was distributed to candidates or other individuals and whether the alleged distribution was carried out in exchange for financial or other benefits.
The investigation is also examining whether additional people were involved in obtaining or circulating the confidential questions.
Digital communications and documents to be examined
The investigation is being conducted by the Mumbai Crime Branch under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Sadanand Rane of the D Division.
Police are expected to examine digital communications, documents and other material as part of the investigation into the alleged leak.
The purpose of the examination is to establish the chain of events through which the questions were allegedly obtained, transferred and potentially distributed.
Accused booked under multiple laws
The case has been registered under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Maharashtra Competitive Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The investigation will determine the specific roles allegedly played by the six arrested individuals and whether others were involved in the alleged examination paper leak.
The arrests have also placed the MPSC’s internal safeguards and the chain of custody of confidential examination material under scrutiny as the Crime Branch continues its investigation.
