Maths HSC paper too leaked; junior college principal among 4 more held

Nagpur: Four more persons, including a junior college principal, were arrested on Friday, in the Maharashtra HSC examination paper leak case taking the total number of arrests to eight. Police investigations have now confirmed that apart from physics and chemistry, mathematics question paper too was leaked and circulated on WhatsApp ahead of the examinations.A minor has also been rounded up in connection with the case, even as names of more tuition classes and a junior college surfaced during the investigation.
The latest arrests by Sadar police include Dinesh Kotangale (37), Manish Shambharkar (46), director of a private tuition class, Pradeep Jangde (43), principal of a junior college, and Sandeep Sartkar (46). All four were remanded to four days' police custody. Police are also searching for Altaf Godil, believed to have played a key role in procuring and forwarding the leaked papers.The offence has been registered under sections 316(5) and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examinations Act, 1982. The complaint was lodged by Anil Dahifale, education officer (secondary), zilla parishad, Nagpur.The case came to light between 10.37am and 12pm on Feb 18 during the chemistry examination at a school in Sadar. Initial investigations revealed that accused Nishikant Moon of Mankapur allegedly circulated physics and chemistry question papers through a WhatsApp group titled "tech 1" before the exams, while accused Farhan Akhtar of Automotive Square prepared and shared answers in the group.Further investigation traced the leak to a 17-year-old student from a Mominpura-based tuition class who allegedly forwarded the paper to the WhatsApp group. Interrogation led police to Junaid Mohammad Abdul Javed (24), also associated with a Mominpura-based tuition class, who allegedly circulated the paper further. Mustafa Khan (42), director of another Mominpura-based tuition class, was earlier arrested after investigators found the leaked paper on his WhatsApp and established prior knowledge of the circulation.Police said Dinesh Kotangale supplied the chemistry and mathematics papers to Junaid and others through WhatsApp. During interrogation, Kotangale revealed that Altaf Godil had approached him seeking access to the papers, following which he contacted Suresh Sahare, who directed them to Manish Shambharkar.Kotangale and Godil allegedly met principal Pradeep Jangde, who provided the chemistry paper and MCQs, which were subsequently forwarded via WhatsApp. The mathematics paper along with answers was later circulated on Feb 21. Further questioning of Jangde pointed investigators to Sandeep Sartkar as the alleged source of the leaked papers, leading to the latest arrests.The probe, being conducted under the Senior Police Inspector of Sadar Police Station, Nagpur City, is now focused on unearthing the entire network, including possible involvement of coaching institutes and examination staff, amid suspicions of an organised racket. Police are analysing digital evidence from mobile phones and WhatsApp groups seized during the investigation.The Maharashtra State Board had earlier maintained in related incidents that certain circulations did not amount to a systemic leak warranting re-examinations. However, confirmation that multiple subjects were leaked has raised fresh concerns over the integrity of the 2026 HSC examinations.