MPSC aspirants march in Pune over paper leak, seek officials' removal
MPSC aspirants in Pune protested demanding accountability after a paper leak, seeking resignations and a transparent probe.
Hundreds of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants took to the streets in Pune on Monday, demanding greater transparency in recruitment and strict action over alleged question paper leaks and procedural irregularities.
The protest march, which began at Omkareshwar Temple Chowk and concluded at the Pune District Collectorate, saw demonstrators call for the resignation of the commission's chairman and secretary. They urged the immediate appointment of officials with a 'clean image' to lead the recruitment body.
The agitation drew political support, with NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar and Congress legislator Vishwajit Kadam joining the protesters. Mr. Pawar asserted that the state government must address the students' demands, clarifying that the movement was not political but led by aspirants.
Among the key demands, the protesters sought a detailed explanation within eight days regarding objections raised about the Drug Inspector (Group-B) examination. They also called for an inquiry into alleged errors in the evaluation of descriptive papers for the 2025 State Services Main and Agricultural Services examinations.
Furthermore, the aspirants demanded that the preliminary inquiry report submitted by the Mumbai Crime Branch to the MPSC be made public. The Crime Branch is investigating the leak of the Drug Inspector exam held in March, a case in which seven people, including a top-ranking female candidate, have been arrested.
Protesters also urged a forensic audit of all examinations conducted during the tenure of arrested under-secretary Abhijit Lendwe. They sought a detailed inquiry into the service records of Lendwe and two other accused officials, Vishweshwar Dattatraya Nakate and Gopal Bhattu Marathe, along with scrutiny of call detail records of candidates selected through their contacts.
Other demands included an independent inquiry into doubts raised over other exam results and a fully transparent conduct of the Group-C preliminary examination scheduled for October 25. The aspirants also called for the revival of the stenographer post.
In response to the leak, MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar has stated that the incident occurred before he assumed charge. He noted that the commission has formed an internal committee to recommend preventive measures, while the state government has set up a separate panel to improve the overall examination process.