MPSC Paper Leak: CJP to Join Protest, Sets Sept 24 Deadline

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will join protesting Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants and demand the resignation of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar and Secretary Mahendra Harpalkar. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke announced the decision on Sept. 13 and gave the Maharashtra government until Sept. 24 to act on the protesters’ demands. If the demands are not addressed, the party has said it will launch a statewide protest campaign with the aspirants.

MPSC paper leak: What are aspirants demanding?

MPSC aspirants are protesting alleged paper leaks, irregularities in online examinations and concerns over the transparency of the commission’s recruitment process.

The immediate issue is the MPSC Drug Inspector Group-B examination, conducted on March 22, 2026. The examination was held at six divisional headquarters in Maharashtra.

Candidates raised allegations that examination material had been available before the test. Following an inquiry, MPSC cancelled the Drug Inspector recruitment process and announced that eligible candidates would be given another opportunity to appear for the examination.

The cancellation came after the recruitment process had already progressed considerably, adding to concerns among candidates who had spent months preparing for the examination.

What is the MPSC Drug Inspector paper leak case?

The Drug Inspector examination is at the centre of the current MPSC paper leak investigation.

Police investigation has found that 77 questions from a leaked set of 294 questions appeared in the examination paper, according to reports on the case.

The investigation has led to arrests of people allegedly connected with the paper leak. Rutuja Patil, who had secured seventh position on the provisional merit list, was also arrested in the case.

Investigators alleged that Patil had been told to intentionally answer 10 questions incorrectly to avoid suspicion.

The investigation is examining how confidential examination material was accessed and circulated before the examination.

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Why are MPSC chairman and secretary facing demands for resignation?

The protesters have demanded the resignation of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar and Secretary Mahendra Harpalkar.

The demand has expanded beyond the Drug Inspector examination, with aspirants seeking a wider examination of the commission’s recruitment and examination procedures.

Protests have been held in Pune, Nagpur and other parts of Maharashtra. Candidates have demanded greater transparency, action against those responsible for examination irregularities and safeguards to prevent future paper leaks.

Aspirants have also sought the preliminary inquiry report related to the Drug Inspector examination and demanded scrutiny of other examinations conducted during the period under investigation.

What has MPSC chairman said?

Vivek Bhimanwar has rejected allegations against him and said the Drug Inspector examination paper leak occurred before he took charge as MPSC chairman.

He has said the commission informed the police after receiving a complaint and that the matter is under investigation.

Bhimanwar has also said he would step down if credible evidence establishes wrongdoing on his part.

The statement has not ended the protesters’ demand for his resignation.

Maharashtra government orders SIT probe

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged irregularities in MPSC examinations.

The state government has also announced a wider review of the commission’s examination system under senior IAS officer V. Radha.

The review is expected to examine examination procedures, safeguards against question-paper leaks and the system for handling candidates’ grievances.

The SIT investigation will now be important in determining whether the alleged irregularities were limited to the Drug Inspector examination or point to wider problems in the MPSC examination system.

CJP gives government Sept. 24 deadline

Abhijeet Dipke said the CJP will stand with MPSC aspirants until their demands are addressed.

The party has given the Maharashtra government until Sept. 24 to act on the demands, including calls for the resignation of senior MPSC officials.

If no action is taken by the deadline, Dipke has announced plans for a statewide protest campaign with the aspirants.

MPSC protest also sees confrontation at commission office

The agitation also led to a confrontation at the MPSC headquarters in Navi Mumbai on Sept. 11.

Three Sambhaji Brigade activists allegedly entered the commission office and smeared black powder on Secretary Mahendra Harpalkar’s face. Police arrested the three activists following the incident.

The organisation linked the protest to the paper leak controversy and repeated its demand for the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary.

What does the MPSC paper leak mean for aspirants?

The cancellation of the Drug Inspector recruitment means candidates who had already cleared stages of the selection process must prepare for another examination.

MPSC has said eligible candidates will not have to submit a fresh application or pay another examination fee for the re-examination.

However, the controversy has created uncertainty for candidates preparing for MPSC recruitment examinations and raised questions about the reliability of the examination process.

The wider concern for aspirants is whether the investigation and proposed reforms will prevent similar incidents in future examinations.

What happens next in the MPSC paper leak case?

The SIT investigation, police probe and government review of the MPSC examination system will determine the next steps.

Candidates should follow official MPSC announcements for the fresh Drug Inspector examination and any changes to examination procedures.

The next major deadline is Sept. 24, when the CJP has said it will decide its next course of action if the government does not address the protesters’ demands.