MPSC Chief Rebuts Paper Leak Claims, Says Incident Happened Before He Took Charge
MUMBAI — Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) chairman Vivek Bhimanwar has rejected allegations linking him to the Drug Inspector (Group-B) examination paper leak, stating that the incident occurred before he took charge of the recruitment body.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Bhimanwar addressed demands for his resignation and social media allegations regarding his involvement. He stated that the incident related to the Drug Inspector examination took place in January 2026, whereas he took charge as MPSC chief on February 18 and assumed office on March 3.
“It is necessary to take into account the facts regarding the period of the incident,” Bhimanwar said, adding that the commission lodged a complaint after taking serious note of the alleged question paper leak. Mumbai police have arrested seven people in connection with the case, including candidate Rutuja Patil, who had secured the seventh rank in the examination.
The recruitment process began with an advertisement issued on July 29, 2025. The offline screening examination was conducted at six divisional headquarters across Maharashtra on March 22, with results declared on June 12. Out of 506 eligible candidates, 488 appeared for interviews between July 1 and July 22. A provisional general merit list of 488 candidates was subsequently published, including 485 candidates found eligible for appointment. Complaints regarding the screening test were received between July 22 and July 26 via email from candidates and public representatives.
Bhimanwar announced that the commission has constituted a high-level internal committee to recommend security and preventive measures to prevent future leaks. The Maharashtra state government has also separately formed a high-level committee to suggest improvements to the broader examination system.
Stating that several reforms have been initiated to strengthen the recruitment framework, Bhimanwar noted that citizens, candidates, and elected representatives have the right to question public examinations, but urged that allegations be evaluated strictly on facts, official records, and evidence rather than personal or political controversy.
