Pune: The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) is set to conduct its Maharashtra Group B Combined Preliminary Examination on February 2, 2025.

However, just days before the exam, a major fraud attempt was uncovered when two individuals were arrested for allegedly offering the question paper and answer key to candidates in exchange for ₹40 lakh.

The Anti-Extortion Squad apprehended the accused, Deepak Dayaram Gaydhane (26) and Sumit Kailas Jadhav (23), from Mahalunge MIDC in Chakan.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that they had received a list of 24 candidates from Nashik from a third suspect, Yogesh Surendra Waghmare. Calls were made to at least two students from Nandgaon, Nashik, offering them the leaked exam material.

Following the incident, MPSC Secretary Dr. Suvarna Kharat lodged an official complaint at the Bundgarden Police Station. Given past incidents of large-scale paper leaks, such as the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), concerns arose among candidates about potential breaches in MPSC exams as well.

Acting swiftly, the Anti-Extortion Squad tracked down and arrested the two accused in Chakan and subsequently detained Yogesh Waghmare in Nagpur with assistance from the local crime branch.

The police are currently investigating how the list of candidates was obtained and whether those listed were appearing for the upcoming exam. However, no concrete evidence has been found yet to confirm that the MPSC paper was leaked.