Thane Police hunt for mastermind of Maharashtra TET paper leak after arrests in Kongaon
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Thane Police has launched a nationwide manhunt for Bijendra Kumar Gupta, the alleged mastermind behind the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak, following the arrest of three suspects at a hotel in Kongaon, Bhiwandi. On June 30, 2026, officials revealed that the investigation has expanded into an inter-state exam racket spanning Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha.
The crackdown began after Thane Police officers laid a trap by posing as potential buyers. Once the suspects believed they had secured a customer, they contacted Gupta, who allegedly sent Rajiv Kumar and Akash Kumar with four sets of leaked question papers.
Police arrested Dhiraj Singh, Akash Kumar, and Rajiv Kumar at a hotel in Kongaon while they were attempting to sell the papers. A fourth suspect, Kapil Shrikrishna Dahiya, who had traveled to Pune to find another buyer, fled to Delhi after learning of the arrests. Thane Police has initiated the process of issuing a Look Out Circular against Dahiya.
According to investigators, the 44-year-old Gupta operated from Delhi and Haryana. He allegedly managed the suspects in two separate groups—Dhiraj and Kapil in one, and Akash and Rajiv in another—keeping them unaware of each other's operations. Gupta is suspected of involvement in five previous exam paper leaks, including the 2023 JEE paper leak in Odisha.
The gang reportedly planned to sell each leaked question paper for Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, targeting coaching class operators in Bhiwandi who prepare students for the TET. They expected to make nearly Rs 1.5 crore from the racket. Consequently, the Maharashtra TET, which was scheduled to take place on June 28 at 1,028 centres across the state, was postponed.
The three arrested suspects have been remanded to police custody until July 6. Dhiraj Singh, a 28-year-old from Panipat, Haryana, reportedly claimed through his lawyer that he was unaware of the conspiracy. Akash Kumar and Rajiv Kumar are graduates from Patna.
The SIT is now examining the printing, handling, and transportation of the question papers. The recovered leaked papers carried code numbers corresponding to exam centres in Washim, Latur, and Jalna. The Maharashtra State Council of Examination holds a long-standing contract with Agra-based Mahim Patram Private Limited for printing the papers.
