The case relates to the Drug Inspector (Group-B) screening examination conducted on March 22, 2026, for posts under Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration. Police allege that the accused gained access to examination questions before the test, prepared a separate set and circulated the material to unauthorised individuals. The arrested MPSC officials have been identified as an Assistant Section Officer, an Under Secretary and another Assistant Section Officer. The other accused include the director of a coaching academy in Nandurbar and two alleged co-conspirators. The alleged irregularities came to light after candidates and public representatives raised complaints about the examination.

According to the MPSC, complaints received in July alleged that some candidates had obtained the question paper or questions before the exam and that the material had been circulated through social media and other electronic platforms. Following the complaints, the MPSC approached Mumbai Police on July 27 and sought an investigation. A preliminary inquiry by the Crime Branch subsequently indicated, prima facie, that at least one candidate had obtained the question set before the examination and benefited from it. The controversy has already forced the MPSC to cancel the entire Drug Inspector recruitment process.

The Commission has announced that a fresh examination will be conducted, while candidates who had applied earlier will not have to submit new applications or pay another examination fee. The six arrested accused were produced before a Mumbai court and have been remanded to police custody until September 2, 2026. Investigators are now examining how the confidential examination material was accessed, how it was circulated and whether more people were involved in the alleged racket. The arrests have raised fresh questions about the security of competitive examinations and the role of officials entrusted with maintaining confidentiality. The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations against the accused will be tested through the judicial process.