MPSC Paper Leak: Breakup With Girlfriend Leads Man To Expose Exam Scam, Get Arrested Himself

A breakup has blown the lid off the Maharashtra Public Service Commission's (MPSC) Drug Inspector paper leak case, with the very man who first alerted authorities to the alleged leak now among six people arrested for being involved in it. According to police, 24-year-old Lokesh alias Gaurav Patil received the leaked question paper from his girlfriend Rutuja ahead of the March 22 examination, only to later report the leak to MPSC after the two broke up.

Whistleblower Turned Out To Be A Beneficiary

Crime Branch DCP Raj Tilak Roushan said that Gaurav, who had initially approached MPSC claiming to have information about the leak, was found during investigation to have been involved in the leak himself. "In all, six persons, including three MPSC employees, have been placed under arrest. A notice has been issued to Rutuja," Roushan said.

Police allege that Gaurav turned whistleblower only after his relationship with Rutuja ended, fearing that once she secured a government job as an officer, she would move on and forget him, The Indian Express reported. He had emailed MPSC posing as a friend of an applicant, alleging that the March 22 exam paper had been leaked, and later followed up on the complaint even as NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar separately raised similar concerns in July. Mumbai: Six Arrested for Breach of Confidentiality in MPSC Exam; Sent to Police Custody Till Sept 2.

How The Paper Leak Was Allegedly Carried Out

The investigation revealed that Rutuja's father, 55-year-old Amrut Patil, had contacted middleman Pravin Patil, 40, both from Nandurbar, ahead of the exam. Pravin allegedly had contacts with three MPSC employees, Assistant Section Officers Vishveshwar Nakate and Gopal Marate, and Undersecretary Abhijeet Lendave, who allegedly helped procure the question paper. Police said Pravin paid INR 5 lakh to the MPSC employees, with more money promised later. Roorkee Double Murder: Paper Leak Case Accused Allegedly Shoots Dead 2 Sisters, Injures Brother-in-Law.

Amrut then allegedly passed the paper to Rutuja days before the exam, and Rutuja forwarded it to Gaurav over WhatsApp two days prior, since his brother was also appearing for the exam. Rutuja went on to secure seventh rank in the exam. By the time results were declared, however, Gaurav and Rutuja had already broken up.

Accused Tried To Backtrack On His Own Complaint

As the investigation progressed, Gaurav reportedly sensed that police were closing in on him and approached MPSC again in an attempt to withdraw his complaint, claiming he had been confused about the examination process. Investigators, however, continued the probe and confirmed that the paper had indeed been leaked, with Gaurav having received it before the exam. "If he was indeed a whistleblower, he should've alerted MPSC before the exam," an officer said.

Exam Cancelled, Fresh Test To Be Held

The Drug Inspector recruitment exam was held on March 22 for 154 Group B gazetted posts in the Food and Drug Administration, with around 44,500 candidates appearing across the state. Results were declared on June 12, and a provisional merit list of 488 candidates was published on July 22. Following the Crime Branch's findings, MPSC cancelled the examination and announced a fresh test, clarifying that candidates from the cancelled process will not need to reapply.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2026 10:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).