The Special Investigation Team probing the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test paper leak case has arrested three more accused from Pathankot in Punjab and Samastipur in Bihar, taking the total number of arrests to seven. The alleged mastermind, Bijendar Kumar Gupta, remains absconding as investigators continue to trace the wider network behind the alleged leak.
Accused Remanded to Police Custody
The arrested accused have been identified as Kapil Dahiya, Mithunkumar Sublal Singh and Sonukumar Kushweshwar Singh. A court has remanded all three to police custody until July 9.
According to investigators, Kapil Dahiya was named in the original FIR. He is alleged to have been among four individuals who travelled to Mumbai last week to sell the leaked TET question paper.
Police said one of his associates was arrested during a trap operation, while Dahiya allegedly escaped to Pune before leaving Maharashtra. Investigators said he booked his flight under the name “Kapil Kapil” in an attempt to evade law enforcement agencies.
Fake Documents Under Probe
The SIT alleged that Dahiya was in contact with alleged mastermind Bijendar Kumar Gupta, who is accused of arranging his travel to Pune as part of the plan to sell the leaked examination papers.
Investigators also arrested Mithunkumar Sublal Singh, a resident of Samastipur in Bihar. He is accused of travelling to Pune to assist in selling the leaked question papers and helping provide answers to candidates.
Sonukumar Kushweshwar Singh, who operates a Photoshop centre in Samastipur, has been accused of preparing fake identity documents for Gupta. Investigators allege that these forged documents helped Gupta evade arrest.
SIT Tracks Wider Network
Sonukumar is also accused of helping make copies of the leaked examination papers at his shop. The SIT has intensified efforts to trace Gupta and identify any additional individuals involved in the alleged conspiracy.
Investigators are examining digital devices, communication records, travel history, financial transactions and other electronic evidence to map the full network.
A researcher at Algoritha Security said organised examination fraud increasingly relies on digital communication, forged identity documents and misuse of printing facilities. The researcher said secure digital identity verification, protection of examination material and strict monitoring of sensitive printing operations are essential to prevent such crimes.
