Maharashtra: MPSC Secretary Tukaram Mundhe seeks affidavits by November 23 in exam malpractice probe

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission MPSC inquiry panel has extended the deadline for submitting affidavits on alleged examination malpractices to November 23MPSC Secretary and Inquiry Commission Member Secretary Tukaram Mundhe has urged candidates students and others with relevant information about alleged question paper and answer key leaks in nine competitive examinations to submit their statements within the extended deadlineThe earlier deadline was November 16According to a press note issued by the commission the extension was granted in view of the Diwali festival and the holidays during the period The panel has clarified that affidavits submitted after November 23 will not be acceptedInquiry into alleged irregularities in nine MPSC examsThe Maharashtra Government appointed the commission to conduct a detailed inquiry into allegations of malpractices in examinations conducted by the MPSC The inquiry covers alleged irregularities including question paper leaks and answer key leaks in nine competitive examinationsCandidates students and other individuals with relevant information about the alleged irregularities have been invited to submit their statements before the commission in the prescribed affidavit formatDocuments to be submitted with affidavitsThe commission has asked applicants to submit their statements in either Marathi or English along with a copy of valid identity proof and selfattested copies of relevant supporting documentsA copy of the notarised affidavit along with the statement and supporting documents must also be sent by email to complaintsinquirycommmpscmaharashtragovinThose seeking information or assistance with submitting complaints and representations can contact the commission on 02220867677No submissions after November 23The commission has urged all concerned to submit their affidavits within the extended deadline reiterating that no submissions received after November 23 will be consideredRohit Pawar submits evidence to Tukaram Mundhe questions fifth OMR optionEarlier this month NCP Sharadchandra Pawar legislator Rohit Pawar sought a wider investigation into the MPSC Food and Drug Inspector recruitment exam paper leak alleging that the racket could involve more people within and outside the commissionIn two letters submitted to the secretary of the judicial inquiry commission Pawar handed over evidence related to the alleged paper leak and demanded an indepth probeIn a post on X Pawar said that both students and he had submitted evidence to the commissions secretary Tukaram Mundhe and sought a thorough investigation into the matterHe also demanded that the Mumbai Crime Branchs preliminary investigation report be made public MPSC MPSC OMR mdash Rohit Pawar RRPSpeaks November 3 2026The Food and Drug Inspector examination conducted by the MPSC on March 22 2026 came under scrutiny after complaints of irregularities and digital evidence surfacedThe MPSC acknowledged on August 26 2026 that the examination paper had been leakedAccording to Pawars letter around 10 to 11 people including candidates MPSC officials and alleged middlemen have been arrested in connection with the case However he said the scale of the racket could be much larger with more individuals potentially involvedPawar said students had also submitted important evidence to the Crime Branch but the agency had not made its preliminary investigation report public despite repeated statements by the Chief Minister on the matter He urged the judicial inquiry commission to obtain the report and examine all the evidence to identify those involved and ensure strict action against themIn a separate letter Pawar questioned the MPSCs decision to scrap the fifth option in the Optical Mark Recognition OMR answer sheets used for its examinations