BHIWANDI, Maharashtra — Two principal accused allegedly linked to the leaked Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) question paper were arrested on Sunday, police said, as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) widened its probe into a network of prospective buyers said to number 168.
Arrests and remand
The two arrested on Sunday were identified as Prakash Misal, a Pune-based government employee, and Ashok Shaw, a Bihar native who was staying in Delhi, according to police. Both were produced before a Bhiwandi court and remanded in police custody till September 23, officials said.
Shaw was taken into custody in Patna, while Misal was arrested near Bhiwandi Naka after police learned he intended to surrender before a court, the SIT said. DCP Pawan Bansod confirmed the arrests to investigators handling the matter.
Scope of the alleged racket
Police said Misal was in contact with approximately 50 people who had shown interest in buying the leaked paper, while Shaw allegedly maintained a list of 118 prospective buyers recovered from his Delhi residence. Combined, these figures account for 168 prospective buyers under scrutiny.
The SIT has so far verified 18 of the 118 names from Shaw's list and found they were preparing to appear for the TET examination; verification of the remaining names is ongoing, officials said.
Links to other accused
Investigators suspect Shaw was directly linked to Solapur-based coaching-class operator Prakash Pawar, who was arrested earlier in the investigation, and may have been in contact with the alleged mastermind, named in FIRs as Bijendra Gupta. Another accused, Kapil Dahiya, had reportedly travelled to Pune to deliver the paper to Misal but told investigators he was unable to hand it over.
"Their interrogation will help us establish to whom they intended to sell the paper," said ACP Sachin Sangle, a member of the SIT.
Investigative progress and chargesheet
The SIT has already filed a voluminous chargesheet of 3,470 pages before the Bhiwandi fast-track court against those arrested earlier in the case, police said. With the arrest of Misal and Shaw, authorities said the two remaining prominent accused identified during the probe have now been apprehended.
Police will continue interrogation to determine whether any transactions took place and at what price the paper was allegedly to be sold. Investigators are also tracing communication records and financial trails to establish the broader network and possible beneficiaries of the leak.
Implications for candidates and the examination
The racket was unearthed two days before the scheduled examination, prompting authorities to postpone the TET. Thousands of aspirants preparing for teaching positions have been affected by the postponement and the subsequent investigation.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about exam security and the role of coaching centres and intermediaries in high-stakes competitive tests across the state.
What the police are pursuing now
- Verification of the remaining 100 names on Shaw's list;
- Establishment of whether Misal completed any sale and the price involved;
- Tracing communications between arrested accused, coaching operators and the alleged mastermind;
- Following financial transactions and possible accomplices outside the immediate circle.
| Accused | Alleged role/status |
|---|---|
| Prakash Misal | Pune-based government employee; arrested, suspected middleman |
| Ashok Shaw | Delhi-based; list of 118 prospective buyers recovered; arrested |
| Prakash Pawar | Solapur coaching-class operator; arrested earlier |
| Kapil Dahiya | Alleged courier who travelled to Pune; had stated he could not deliver the paper |
| Bijendra Gupta | Named as alleged mastermind in FIRs; under investigation |
Police said further arrests remain possible as interrogation progresses. The SIT will present its findings and additional charges, if any, to the fast-track court as the investigation moves forward.
Local aspirants and coaching institutes in Mumbai, Pune, Solapur and other districts are watching the probe closely as the state education department and exam authorities coordinate with law enforcement to strengthen future safeguards around examinations.
This report is based on statements and filings made available by the SIT and Bhiwandi police, and on reporting by national and local news agencies.
