A nearly 3,500-page chargesheet filed by Thane City Police has revealed fresh details about the alleged Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak, including how question papers were taken out of a printing press in Agra.
According to the chargesheet, two employees of the printing press allegedly hid the examination papers inside the insoles of their shoes and carried them out of the facility. Police allege that the employees were paid around Rs 8,000 each for helping remove the confidential papers.
The chargesheet was filed before a court in Bhiwandi and names 18 accused in the case. Police have arrested 16 of them, while two alleged accomplices, Ashok Sav and Prakash Misal, are still absconding, according to the investigation.
How the TET Papers Were Allegedly Taken Out
Police traced the alleged source of the leak to Mahim Patran Pvt. Ltd., an Agra-based printing press that was handling the confidential TET examination material.
According to the chargesheet, two employees and a former employee allegedly removed folded question papers from the press between June 15 and June 17.
The papers were reportedly hidden beneath the insoles of their shoes. The security checks at the facility focused on their clothes and allegedly did not detect the papers concealed inside their footwear.
The investigation also found that multiple sets of the examination paper had been prepared to prevent a leak from affecting the actual test. However, police allege that all four sets were taken out of the printing facility.
Leak Exposed Before the Exam
The alleged paper leak came to light just before the Maharashtra TET was scheduled to be held on June 28.
Police received information that some people were trying to sell copies of the examination paper to a person in Bhiwandi. Investigators then carried out an operation in the Kongaon area using decoy personnel.
Four sets of question papers were recovered during the operation. The Maharashtra State Council of Examination subsequently checked the material and confirmed that it matched the actual examination papers.
The examination was subsequently postponed following the leak allegations.
Bijendra Gupta Named as Alleged Mastermind
The chargesheet names Bijendra Gupta as the alleged mastermind of the network. Police have said Gupta had previously been linked to another examination paper leak case in Odisha.
Investigators have reportedly followed financial transactions, phone records and other technical evidence while tracing how the papers moved from the printing press to people allegedly involved in their distribution.
Police have also cited the recovery of an original question paper from the Bihar residence of a relative of Gupta as part of the evidence collected during the investigation.
Police to File Additional Chargesheet
The investigation is still continuing. Police have indicated that a supplementary chargesheet will be filed if further evidence or additional suspects emerge.
The accused have been booked under provisions relating to cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy, along with laws dealing with examination malpractice and unfair means.
The case is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), while the chargesheet will now form part of the court proceedings.
