Need 'clean' officers: MPSC students protest in Pune against paper-leak, recruitment fraud

Several civil services aspirants in Pune staged protest over the alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examination. Candidates are demanding transparency in the recruitment process and resignation of the MPSC chairman, secretary, PTI reported.

They have also urged the government to “immediately” appoint officers with a “clean image” to the MPSC chairman and secretary posts, as per the report.

A protest march was conducted from Omkareshwar Temple Chowk to the Pune district collectorate, where protesters raised their demands over the functioning of the MPSC and examination procedure, the report read.

“NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar and Congress legislator Vishwajit Kadam joined the protesters, extending support to their demands. Pawar said the government must fulfil the protesters' demands,” it added.

Also read Gautam Buddha University student ordered to sign Rs 5-lakh bond over ‘anti-govt propaganda’, CJP protest

MPSC chairman refutes paper leak allegations

A few days ago, the MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar denied the allegations against him in connection with the MPSC drug inspector examination paper leak.

In an official statement, Bhimanwar pointed out that the MPSC exam paper leak incident took place in January 2026, whereas, he assumed charge of the chairman in March.

Now, the aspirants are demanding an explanation from the commission over the objections in the MPSC drug inspector (group B) examination within 8 days and initiate an inquiry into alleged irregularities, the report read.

They have also sought an inquiry into alleged errors in the evaluation of description papers of the 2025 State Services Main Examination and Agricultural Services examination, it added.

Also read MHT CET: Applications equal seats, illegal EWS admissions, no records – Maharashtra colleges err across board

'Make Mumbai crime branch report on MPSC paper leak public'

Notably, they have also urged the commission to announce the preliminary inquiry report publicly, which was submitted by the Mumbai crime branch, it said.

Currently, the Mumbai crime branch is investigating the MPSC drug inspector question paper leak incident, held in March, the report stated.

The protesters have also demanded a forensic audit of all examinations held during the tenure of arrested MPSC under-secretary Abhijeet Lendwe, it added.

Among other demands, the students have also asked for a detailed inquiry into the service records and promotion criteria of Lendwe and two other accused, MPSC assistant section officers, it said.

In addition, they have also requested a re-check of all the call detail records (CDRs) of candidates selected through the contacts of the three accused and a probe into the alleged involvement of agents, it added.