Maharashtra TET Postponed After Major Inter-State Paper Leak Racket Busted; Three Arrested

Maharashtra: The Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test paper was leaked. Police arrested three people just one day before the exam. The exam was supposed to happen on June 28. But now, it is being cancelled. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took direct charge. He ordered a Special Investigation Team and said that he is not tolerating any compromise.

What about the police operation?

Thane police got a tip. Suspects were coming to Kongaon near Bhivandi to trade the leaked TET paper. Police set up an undercover operation. They dressed in plain clothes and waited. On Friday morning the three showed up. Police surrounded them and arrested them. When they searched, they found something shocking. Four sets of fake exam papers. Several debit and credit cards. Money transactions. Big money.

What was the demand?

The accused were asking for Rs 1.5 crore for the leaked papers. That is enormous, that showed this is not street-level crime. This is well organized, and linked to from North India to West regions.

Who are they?

The three arrested are between 28 and 45 years old. One is from Haryana and two are from Bihar. They traveled from Delhi to Maharashtra. This showed the network spans multiple states. North India to Western India. This is big and interstate connected. Police are digging as they want to find out who the papers were meant to sell to. They want to find the mastermind and teams are being sent to different states. Cases have been registered under serious sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Also under the Maharashtra Competitive Examination (Prevention of Improper Means) Act 2024. These are non-bailable offences.

The scale of the exam?

The exam was huge as 1,728 centers across 37 locations in Maharashtra and over 6 lakh candidates were going to take it. The students are upset because the exam got cancelled. Now they have to wait for revised schedule. The Maharashtra State Exam Council gave good news. When the exam happens again, no one has to re-register. No one has to pay extra fees.

What is the message?

The CM made one thing clear. Anyone involved in this scam will face jail. No one gets spared and no matter how much powerful. He said that the education mafia will think twice now. The new law is tough as it is comes under non-bailable offences, giving serious punishment. This is not just about one exam but about protecting the futures of lakh students.