MPSC students withdrew their protest at Pune’s S M Joshi Bridge late on Sunday after the Maharashtra government announced a high-level inquiry into alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. The decision followed negotiations led by minister Shivendraraje Bhosale, with the government accepting most of the students’ demands, according to a report by Pudhari – Pune.
The inquiry committee will be headed by Justice Dilip Bhosale and is expected to submit a detailed report within two months. IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe has been appointed as the committee’s secretary. The committee will examine the allegations concerning the MPSC examinations and will also investigate and recommend action on the question of the commission chairman’s resignation.
The protest had continued at the S M Joshi Bridge in Pune for several days. It ended late on Sunday amid celebrations attended by thousands of students after the government’s assurances. The announcement has placed the examination authority’s internal functioning and the handling of allegations of paper leaks and other irregularities under a formal review.
MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar will remain on leave until the inquiry into the alleged paper leak and examination irregularities is completed. In a statement cited by Pudhari, Bhimanwar said he had always given priority to ethics throughout his life and had therefore decided not to continue in office during the inquiry period.
The leave arrangement separates the chairman from the commission’s functioning while the committee conducts its review. The source report does not specify whether the government has announced an interim arrangement for the chairmanship or how ongoing examination-related decisions will be handled during the inquiry.
The committee’s two-month deadline is now the next formal milestone in the matter. Its findings are expected to determine the facts surrounding the allegations and provide the basis for any recommendation concerning the MPSC chairman. Until the report is submitted, the allegations remain subject to the committee’s investigation.
The withdrawal of the protest followed intervention by Bhosale and cooperation from the police administration, according to statements cited in the report. Political leader Rohit Pawar congratulated the students in a social media post and thanked the government, administration, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Bhosale and the police for their roles in bringing the agitation to an end.
For candidates, the immediate outcome is the government’s formal commitment to investigate the disputed examination process rather than an immediate final determination on the allegations. The committee’s report, its recommendations and the administration’s response will therefore decide the next stage of the case.
