Maharashtra: Solapur resident held as TET paper-leak probe widens
Solapur, Maharashtra — A pre-recruitment training centre owner from Solapur has been arrested in connection with the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak, taking the number of people detained in the case to 16, a senior Bhiwandi police official said on Tuesday.
The accused has been identified as Prakash Pawar, a resident of Solapur who ran a coaching institute named Dhruv Pratishthan for nearly a decade. Pawar was arrested by the Bhiwandi unit of Thane district police during the ongoing investigation into a racket that surfaced at the end of June.
Police said searches at Pawar's premises and in his possession recovered 26 examination-related paper sets, of which at least six were directly linked to the TET examinations. Investigators are examining the seized documents along with phone call records and financial transactions connected to the academy to determine whether leaked question papers were distributed to candidates prior to the tests.
- Arrestee: Prakash Pawar, owner of Dhruv Pratishthan, Solapur
- Detentions in case so far: 16
- Paper sets recovered from Pawar: 26 (including 6 TET-linked sets)
- Pawar remanded to police custody until August 15
According to the Bhiwandi police official, preliminary inquiry indicates Pawar had coached around 1,000 students over the years under a scheme where candidates paid fees only after they passed. Investigators are probing whether this arrangement was used as a conduit to collect and channel illicit funds arising from the alleged paper-leak operations.
"We are examining all angles to determine how the accused accessed these examination materials and whether additional sub-agents or insiders were involved. Further arrests have not been ruled out as the probe progresses," the police official said.
Local court records show Pawar was remanded to police custody until August 15 to allow detailed interrogation and to help uncover the broader module operating behind the racket. The Bhiwandi police said searches also targeted digital devices and financial documentation to establish links between the seized materials and any distribution network.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of suspects held (total) | 16 |
| Paper sets recovered from Pawar | 26 (including 6 TET-linked) |
| Number of students trained (approx.) | ~1,000 |
The investigation follows a larger probe into leaks of recruitment and eligibility examination papers that came to light in late June. Authorities in Thane district had earlier arrested several people in connection with circulation of examination material; the probe has now extended to actors allegedly operating from other districts, including Solapur.
Officials said they are scrutinising telephone call data records and financial trails connected with Dhruv Pratishthan to establish whether the institute acted as a distribution point for leaked papers or as part of a wider network involving sub-agents and possibly insiders with access to examination material. Police did not provide further names or locations of other suspects at this stage, saying the probe was active and further arrests were possible.
The development has raised concerns in Solapur among aspirants who enrol at local coaching centres for government recruitment and teaching exams. The model described by investigators — fee collection after a candidate passes — is under particular scrutiny as a potential method to launder illicit gains from leaked papers.
Investigating officers said detailed forensic examination of the recovered documents and devices will be undertaken to establish timelines and linkages. The probe aims to determine how the examination materials were obtained, whether originals or duplicates were circulated, and the chain of custody leading from any insider source to candidates.
As the inquiry progresses, police said they will provide further updates. Legal proceedings and custodial interrogation of the arrested accused will be used to expand the investigation and identify any additional persons involved in the alleged paper-leak network.
