Maharashtra Drug Inspector Recruitment Cancelled After Paper Leak Probe; 6 Arrested as MPSC Orders Fresh Exam

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission has scrapped the recruitment drive for Drug Inspector positions following a paper leak probe. Mumbai Police Crime Branch arrested six suspects, and a fresh exam will be scheduled.

The Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police has arrested six individuals in connection with the alleged question paper leak in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission recruitment drive for Drug Inspector posts. Police officers are currently interrogating all six suspects to unravel the full extent of the conspiracy. Meanwhile, acting on initial investigation findings that confirmed serious irregularities, the commission has officially cancelled the entire recruitment process for Group-B Drug Inspector positions in the Food and Drug Administration department and announced that a fresh screening examination will be conducted.

Investigation Uncovers Pre-Exam Question Sharing
The controversy first came to light between 22 July and 26 July when the commission received multiple formal complaints from candidates and public representatives. Student candidates including Gaurav Patil, Lokesh Patil, and Hrishikesh Gangurde were among the first to flag the issue via email. The complainants alleged that questions from the examination paper were leaked on 20 March 2026, two full days before the scheduled test on 22 March, and were circulated across various digital platforms and social media channels.

Taking note of the severity of these allegations, MPSC formally requested the Mumbai Police on 27 July 2026 to launch a comprehensive probe. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch conducted a preliminary inquiry and submitted its report to the commission. The findings established that at least one candidate had gained unauthorized access to the question set prior to the examination and derived an unfair advantage from it. While the commission stopped short of confirming a widespread paper leak, it determined that the integrity of the test was compromised. Following the report, the Crime Branch apprehended six key suspects who are presently in custody.

Chronology of Events in the Drug Inspector Recruitment
The recruitment drive originated on 29 July 2025, when MPSC published an official advertisement to fill Group-B Drug Inspector positions within the state's Food and Drug Administration department. Subsequently, the offline screening test was conducted on 22 March 2026 across six divisional headquarters in Maharashtra. The examination results were declared on 12 June 2026, shortlisting 506 candidates for the interview round.

Interviews took place between 1 July and 22 July 2026, with 488 shortlisted candidates appearing before the panel. On 22 July 2026, MPSC released a provisional general merit list of these 488 participants, declaring 485 candidates eligible for the Drug Inspector role and three candidates ineligible. However, complaints regarding paper leaks had already started surfacing by 21 July. Following the police investigation in late July, MPSC officially announced the complete cancellation of the recruitment process on 25 August 2026 to safeguard transparency and candidate trust.

What Candidates Need to Know About the Re-Examination
MPSC clarified that the decision to scrap the ongoing process was essential to maintain transparency, fairness, and public trust in competitive examinations. A fresh screening test will be organized for all eligible applicants. Candidates who had previously submitted valid applications will not be required to re-apply or pay any additional examination fees.

The commission will announce the fresh screening examination date and detailed schedule separately on its official portal. The entire selection timeline will reset to the examination stage to ensure an unbiased recruitment process for all participants.

What this means for you
• For Job Candidates: Applicants who previously registered for the MPSC Drug Inspector recruitment will not need to submit fresh forms or pay additional fees for the re-test.
• In Maharashtra: The entire recruitment process has been scrapped to ensure transparency, and a fresh examination will be scheduled following the Crime Branch investigation.

Questions & Answers

1. Why was the MPSC Drug Inspector exam cancelled?
The recruitment was cancelled after a Crime Branch investigation confirmed irregularities following complaints that questions were leaked two days before the 22 March 2026 exam.

2. What action has the police taken in the paper leak case?
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has arrested six suspects in connection with the paper leak and is interrogating them.

3. Will candidates need to fill out a fresh application for the re-exam?
No, candidates who applied previously do not need to reapply or pay any additional fee.

4. When will the new exam date be announced?
The Maharashtra Public Service Commission will announce the date for the new screening examination separately on its official website.

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