MPSC paper leak case: Mumbai Crime Branch arrests another accused

Protesters celebrate after the Maharashtra government formed a committee to overhaul the state recruitment body MPSC, naming FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe as secretary on October 12, 2026 | Photo Credit: PTI The Mumbai Police on Monday (October 12, 2026) arrested another accused in connection with the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) paper leak case, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 12.The accused, identified as Mayur Chandrakant Thakre, was arrested by the Crime Branch in connection with a case registered under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).According to DCP (Detection) Raj Tilak Roshan, Mr. Thakre was produced before a court, which remanded him to police custody until October 17.The case relates to the alleged leak of the question paper for the MPSC Drug Inspector (Group B) recruitment examination held in March 2026. Six people, including an MPSC undersecretary, two assistant section officers, a coaching class director, a schoolteacher and a candidate, were arrested in August.Subsequent arrests included another candidate, Rutuja Patil, and four others arrested in September, including two candidates and two alleged middlemen, taking the tally to 11 before Monday’s (October 12) arrest.The arrests come amid a wider agitation by MPSC aspirants in Pune over alleged examination irregularities, recruitment delays and demands for greater transparency. Protesters have also sought the removal of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, while different student groups have raised competing demands over the examination pattern.The State government on Monday (October 12) announced an inquiry into the alleged irregularities, following which the agitation was called off. Mr. Bhimanwar has gone on leave after the inquiry, headed by senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe, was announced by the government.The latest arrest followed 11 other accused apprehended in the case. However, police have not disclosed Mr. Thakre's specific role in the alleged paper leak or provided further details about his links to the other accused.Further investigation is under way. Published - October 12, 2026 09:28 pm IST