Three individuals have been detained in relation to the alleged leak of the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026 examination papers, after police uncovered four sets of these question papers in a recent operation. This development occurred in the Kongaon area of Thane district, as reported on Saturday. The arrests coincided with the Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) in Pune postponing the TET examination originally scheduled for June 28 due to concerns surrounding a potential leak of the examination papers.

Officials indicated that the arrests were made following diligent police work triggered by confidential information concerning suspicious activities related to the examination papers. The police laid a trap in the Kongaon region, successfully apprehending the accused around 11 am on Friday.

During the operation, authorities seized not only four sets of TET examination papers but also various debit and credit cards from the suspects. The arrested individuals are aged 45, 28, and 30, with all three reportedly travelling from Delhi. While one suspect is from Haryana, the other two are identified as residents of Bihar.

Ongoing Investigations and Recovery Demands

Initial investigations by the police revealed that the illicit examination papers were allegedly sourced from Delhi. Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Dubey mentioned an alarming demand of approximately Rs 1.5 crore for the leaked papers. This revelation has prompted law enforcement to actively seek out individuals who may have been interested in purchasing the papers.

The main suspect in this case remains at large, with search operations in progress to locate him. Police authorities are taking these developments seriously and emphasise their commitment to apprehending all individuals involved in this alleged scam.

As investigations unfold, police suspect the existence of a wider organised criminal network behind the leak. Dubey announced that rigorous action would be pursued against anyone identified as participating in this issue. A specially formed investigation team, made up of two Assistant Commissioners of Police and nine Police Inspectors, will take on a broader inquiry across various states.

Examination Council’s Response and Future Actions

In response to the unfolding situation, the Examination Council has initiated its own inquiry regarding the leaked materials. The MSCE urged candidates to rely solely on official updates shared via its website and to exercise caution against unverified information circulating on social media platforms. The Council has committed to announcing a new examination date once the investigation has been concluded and all relevant factors have been considered.

Earlier that same day, the MSCE made a public announcement about postponing the TET 2025 examination until further notice due to the suspected recovery of examination-related documents during a police raid conducted in Bhiwandi. The Examination Council is currently assessing whether the recovered materials represent the actual examination papers or are simply mock tests.

Deputy Commissioner of the Examination Council Priya Shinde assured candidates that they would not be required to re-register or pay additional fees for the upcoming rescheduled examination. She noted that the process of conducting an examination of this magnitude typically necessitates a timeframe of about three weeks before a new date can be confirmed.

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