Mumbai Crime Branch arrests four more in MPSC Drug Inspector paper leak case

The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested four more people, including two candidates, in connection with the alleged leak of the MPSC Drug Inspector (Group-B) screening examination paper held earlier this year, officials said.

With the latest arrests, 11 people have been taken into custody in the case so far.

According to a Crime Branch official, the latest arrests include candidates Sajid Sande of Sangli and Vijay Kingar of Buldhana, along with middlemen Sandip Khalate and Bhairavnath Kadam, both residents of Navi Mumbai. The four were arrested on Thursday.

Police allege that Sande and Kingar obtained the question paper illegally.

Earlier, the Crime Branch arrested Rutuja Patil, who appeared for the examination on March 22 and secured seventh position in the provisional merit list. Police alleged that Patil received the leaked paper and was instructed to deliberately give 10 wrong answers to avoid suspicion.

Following her arrest, police arrested six more people, including three MPSC officials. According to the Crime Branch, the accused accessed the questions before the examination, prepared a separate set and circulated it to unauthorised persons.

The examination was held to recruit Drug Inspectors (Group-B) for the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Following a preliminary inquiry into the alleged malpractice, the MPSC cancelled the recruitment process and announced that the examination would be conducted again.

The commission said the decision was taken to ensure equal and fair opportunities for all candidates and maintain confidence in the recruitment process by protecting the integrity, transparency and impartiality of its examinations.

Police said the question papers had been prepared by experts under strict confidentiality protocols.

A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at Competitive Examinations Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The charges include cheating, criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy and corruption by public servants.

Further investigation is underway, officials said.  (with inputs from PTI)