The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) paper leak investigation has widened after a report alleged that a candidate received the 2025 Group B examination paper for Rs 60 lakh and scored 90 out of 100, while 61 sub-registrars have reportedly come under the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) scrutiny.
The claims were reported by Lokmat, which said the investigation relates to the Group B 2025 examination, including the recruitment examination for the sub-registrar post. The report also linked the case to an earlier leak involving the Drug Inspector examination, for which the alleged paper was reportedly sold for Rs 50 lakh.
According to the report, candidate Vijay Kingar was arrested from Buldhana several days ago. Documents cited by students reportedly show that Rs 10 lakh connected with financial transactions involving both examinations was returned. These claims have not been independently established in the material supplied for this report and remain part of the investigation.
Lokmat quoted Rishi Gangarde, who had earlier raised the alleged Drug Inspector examination leak, as saying that scoring 90 marks in the Group B examination would be difficult. Gangarde also pointed to Kingar’s reported performance in other examinations, saying he had failed the Combined Group C 2025 and Group B 2026 examinations but passed the Group B 2025 examination for the sub-registrar post with 90 marks.
The report said the SIT is examining whether the alleged leak involved officials connected with MPSC’s confidential operations. MPSC Under Secretary Abhijit Lendwe has already been arrested in the case, according to the report. It further alleged that Lendwe’s signature appeared on the Group B 2025 examination admit card and named Assistant Section Officer Gopal Marathe and officer Vishweshwar Nakate in connection with the confidential department. These are allegations reported by Lokmat and have not been treated here as established findings.
The investigation is also examining a claim that a relative of Marathe was declared successful in the Group B examination without appearing for it. The report said that eight other people were allegedly given access to the Group B preliminary examination paper. The SIT is investigating the scale of the alleged chain and how many candidates may have benefited.
The scrutiny of sub-registrars is significant because the post is directly connected with property registration and the administration of land and real-estate transactions. Lokmat reported that 61 sub-registrars, including candidates selected through the sports quota and others, were on the SIT’s radar. It cited differences in marks, including a reported sports-quota cut-off of 26 alongside scores of 72, as one reason for the inquiry.
The allegations have also triggered protests by students demanding the resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar. The report said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had asked Governor Jishnu Dev Varma to order a judicial inquiry into examinations conducted during the tenures of former acting chairman Abhay Wagh, current chairman Bhimanwar and other members. The supplied report does not establish whether such an inquiry has been formally ordered.
The case now has two immediate institutional questions: whether the alleged examination irregularities can be proved through documentary and forensic evidence, and whether the review will extend to appointments already made on the basis of the disputed examinations. The SIT’s findings and any subsequent court or government orders will determine the status of the candidates, officials and sub-registrars named in the allegations.
