02 July,2026 12:53 PM IST | Patna | mid-day online correspondent
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The investigation into the alleged Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak has widened, with the Maharashtra Special Task Force (STF), assisted by the Vaishali Police, conducting a late-night raid at a cyber cafe in Bihar's Hajipur and detaining three people for questioning.
The operation is part of the ongoing probe into the alleged leak of the Maharashtra TET question paper ahead of the examination scheduled for June 28.
According to police, a joint team of the Maharashtra STF, Thane Police and the Vaishali Police carried out the raid at a cyber cafe on Kachhari Road in Hajipur on Wednesday night.
The search continued until around 1 am on Thursday, during which investigators examined documents, computers and other digital devices found on the premises.
Police detained three individuals, including cyber cafe operator Sonu Kumar, for questioning in connection with the investigation.
Officials clarified that the detained individuals have not been formally arrested and are being questioned as the investigation continues.
Police sources said investigators recovered several digital devices and documents during the search operation.
The seized materials will be sent for forensic examination to determine whether they have any connection with the alleged paper leak.
A Maharashtra Police official said, "This case is linked to the Maharashtra TET paper leak. We came here to investigate in connection with this matter; we have recovered some suspicious documents, and further action is underway."
Officials said the investigation remains at a crucial stage and further action will depend on the findings of the forensic analysis.
Sonu Kumar's elder brother, Jitendra Kumar, said the family became concerned after Sonu failed to return home on Wednesday night.
According to him, Sonu's wife informed family members that he was not answering his phone. They searched for him throughout the night before learning about the police action on Thursday.
The family has not made any further public statement regarding the allegations being investigated by the Maharashtra STF.
The Maharashtra TET paper leak investigation has already resulted in multiple arrests and raids in Maharashtra, Bihar and Haryana.
Investigators have identified Bijendra Gupta, a resident of Samastipur district in Bihar, as the alleged mastermind behind the network suspected of orchestrating the paper leak.
Police teams have been conducting searches across several states to trace Gupta.
Earlier, the Maharashtra STF also questioned Gupta's wife in Patna as part of its investigation into the alleged financial transactions linked to the case.
More than 4.28 lakh candidates had registered for the Maharashtra TET examination.
However, the Maharashtra State Examination Council cancelled the examination after the question paper was allegedly leaked nearly 24 hours before it was scheduled to be held on June 28.
The Maharashtra STF continues to investigate the alleged leak, with officials saying further action will be taken based on evidence collected during the ongoing probe across multiple states.
(With inputs from PTI)
