3 arrested, Bihar kingpin absconding, SIT probe: Timeline of Maharashtra TET paper leak probe

The investigation into the Maharashtra TET 2026 paper leak has expanded beyond the state. Three men were arrested, while two are still on the run.

Updated on: Jun 29, 2026, 10:16:52 IST

Reported by Kaptan Mali | Written by Shivya Kanojia

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The investigation into the alleged leak of the 2026 Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) question paper has expanded, with police widening the probe beyond Maharashtra after identifying what they believe to be a multi-state network.

The police expanded the probe beyond Maharashtra after identifying what they believe is a multi-state network. (PTI)

Three men arrested ahead of the examination have now been sent to police custody, while two more accused, including the alleged mastermind, remain on the run, earlier HT reported.

Here is a timeline of the case based on the developments so far.

Saturday: Three accused arrested before exam

The case came to light on Saturday, June 27, when the Thane police arrested three men from Kongaon village on the outskirts of Bhiwandi.

Also read | Bihar man is Maharashtra TET paper leak kingpin, court told; 3 sent to police custody

The arrested accused were identified as Akash Kumar, 30, and Rajiv Shah, 45, both residents of Patna in Bihar, and Dhiraj Kumar, 28, from Panipat in Haryana.

During the operation, the police recovered four sets of the TET-2026 question paper. Officials from the education department later confirmed that the recovered papers matched the actual question paper prepared for the examination scheduled the following day.

According to the police, the accused allegedly planned to earn ₹1.5 crore by selling the leaked papers to candidates.

Sunday: TET examination postponed

Following the recovery of the question papers, authorities postponed the Maharashtra TET examination that was scheduled for Sunday.

Also read | Maharashtra teacher recruitment test cancelled after raid reveals paper leak; 3 arrested

The decision affected more than 6 lakh candidates, who were left waiting after the exam was cancelled at the last moment.

Three accused produced before court

The arrested trio was produced before Bhiwandi court on Sunday.

The prosecution, represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Thane police) Vijay Marathe, sought 10 days of police custody, arguing that investigators suspected the accused were part of a multi-state paper leak racket and that teams would need to travel to different states during the investigation.

The court, however, remanded all three accused to eight days in police custody.

Police identify alleged kingpin, two accused absconding

During the hearing, the police informed the court that Bihar resident Bijender Gupta was the alleged kingpin behind the paper leak racket.

According to the police, Gupta had allegedly been involved in at least 20 paper leak incidents across several states.

Also read | 3 held in Bhiwandi for TET paper leak

The court was also informed that Gupta and Haryana resident Kapil Dahia, another accused in the case, were absconding and had been declared wanted.

Ashok Dudhe, Additional Commissioner of Police, Thane Western Zone, said the investigation was now focused on tracing both men.

Defence seeks medical care for one accused

During the proceedings, Advocate Satender Redhu, appearing for accused Dhiraj Kumar, requested the court to direct the police to provide his client with proper medical treatment.

The lawyer told the court that Kumar had recently undergone bariatric surgery for weight reduction. The Thane police assured the court that he would receive adequate medical care while in custody.

Redhu also argued that his client had been falsely implicated. According to the defence, Kumar was travelling from Delhi to Mumbai by train with his friends when he was arrested.

SIT formed to investigate the case

As the investigation expanded, the Thane police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged paper leak.

The SIT has been formed under the leadership of Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Panjabrao Ugle and is headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Pawan Bansod. It includes two assistant commissioners of police, nine inspector-rank officers and 20 other personnel.

Bansod said multiple police teams from Bhiwandi tracked the three accused and recovered the leaked question papers from them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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