Maharashtra TET paper leak probe: Bihar man identified as mastermind, hunt on

Police have identified absconding Bihar-based Bijendra Gupta as the alleged mastermind in the Maharashtra TET paper leak case. The probe has widened across several states as the 2026 exam stands postponed pending verification of the seized papers.

In Short

• Police searched Patna and Samastipur after identifying wider links in the case
• Three arrested suspects said they were acting on Bijendra Gupta's instructions
• A 2024 India Today TV sting draws attention to Gupta's big paper leak network

The Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak investigation has taken a major turn after police identified Bihar-based Bijendra Gupta as the alleged mastermind behind the operation. Gupta, a resident of Samastipur, is currently absconding, with Maharashtra Police conducting raids across multiple states to trace him.

According to sources, police teams have carried out searches in Patna and Samastipur as part of efforts to arrest Gupta. Officials suspect that the three accused arrested so far in the case were allegedly working on his instructions.

Gupta has allegedly been involved in examination paper leak networks for nearly 25 years and has previously faced allegations in multiple such cases. His name has surfaced in several investigations, though he has managed to evade arrest on earlier occasions.

An India Today sting operation conducted in Patna in 2024, in which Gupta featured, has also come under the scanner again following the latest developments in the Maharashtra TET case.

In the sting, Gupta claimed to have been involved in the paper leak racket for more than 25 years and his network had links to several major recruitment exam leaks, including the 2023 Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) examination, as well as exams conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) and the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC).

HOW TET LEAK CAME TO LIGHT?

The alleged paper leak was uncovered after Bhiwandi Police received information that a group of people from Delhi and Haryana had travelled to Mumbai to strike deals for selling the TET question paper before the examination.

Acting on the tip-off, police laid a trap in the Kongaon area of Thane district and arrested three people identified as Akash, Rajiv and Dheeraj. During the operation, police recovered four sets of question papers from the accused.

During interrogation, the arrested accused allegedly revealed Gupta's role in the operation, leading officials to identify him as the 'mastermind'.

The police investigation also indicated that the paper was being sold through deals involving crores of rupees.

TET EXAM POSTPONED

The Maharashtra government postponed the TET 2026 examination, which was scheduled to be held on June 28, following allegations of a possible question paper leak.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.

Officials from the Education Department are currently verifying whether the material recovered by police is the actual TET question paper or a mock test paper. The further course of action will depend on the outcome of the verification process.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Police have expanded the investigation beyond the state, with teams also looking into possible links across Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

- Ends