Angry MPSC aspirants warn of Jantar Mantar-like stir if govt fails to act in 3 days

PUNE: Hundreds of aspirants took to the streets across Maharashtra on Monday, demanding the resignation of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) chairman and secretary, a high-level probe into the alleged irregularities in the commission’s drug inspector examination case and that the preliminary inquiry report submitted by Mumbai crime branch be made public.The protesters warned of a Jantar Mantar-like protest if the state govt did not act on their demands in three days. The agitation came in the wake of the alleged paper leak in the MPSC Drug Inspector examination and the arrest of officials linked to the commission’s confidential section.Carrying placards and raising slogans in Pune, the protesters marched from Omkareshwar Chowk to the collectorate, halting traffic on several arterial roads. In Kolhapur, the agitators marched under the umbrella of ‘All Competitive Exams Students Action Committee’ from Dasara Chowk to the collectorate.Protesters sat on the road outside Pune collectorate while a delegation submitted a memorandum to the district administration.“We have studied for years, but are forced to stand on the roads with placards. If govt does not accept our demands, we will intensify the agitation. Our futures cannot be put at risk because of irregularities in the examination system,” Nitin Andhale, student representative and organiser of the protest, said.The aspirants also demanded a forensic audit of all MPSC examinations conducted during the tenure of officials working in the commission’s confidential section who are facing scrutiny in the paper leak case and an inquiry into their service records, promotions and the criteria used for their appointments and promotions.They also want an investigation into the suspected network involved in the paper leak, a scrutiny of financial transactions, call records, digital evidence and the contact network of the suspects.Aspirant Sumit Jadhav said, “We want an independent inquiry into doubts surrounding the results of other MPSC examinations. We need an explanation from the commission in eight days on objections raised by candidates regarding the Group B examination and a govt inquiry into whether any irregularity had occurred.”Protester Asmita Kale said students also want an inquiry into errors noticed during evaluation of descriptive answer sheets for State Services Main Examination 2025 and agriculture services examination and into alleged irregularities in the departmental examinations conducted by the state excise department and for police sub-inspectors.Youth Congress leader Akshay Jain said young people should be holding question papers not protest placards. “We need transparency, accountability and action against those responsible,” he said. Others said they would press for regular public updates on the investigation.MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar said his statement on Sept 2, 2026 clarified that the drug inspector exam paper leak happened before he joined yet repeated allegations are being made against him about it.He said the commission filed a police complaint immediately and the investigation is underway. The commission and the govt have formed high-level committees and started consultations with students, parents and teachers at the divisional level.Bhimanwar said he was deeply distressed by the continued personal and politically motivated allegations against him. He added that he introduced several reforms in MPSC and conducted 84 examinations, including eight competitive examinations and 76 screening examinations for direct recruitment.Several improvements made it possible to declare results between 18 and 21 days from the time govt sought recruitment and plans are to declare other results within a month.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in PuneStay updated with the latest Pune news. Download the TOI App.