The latest accused include two candidates and two alleged middlemen. The candidates have been identified as Sajid Sande, arrested in Sangli, and Vijay Kinger, arrested in Buldhana. The middlemen, Sandeep Khalate and Bhairavnath Kadam, were arrested in Navi Mumbai, investigators said.
Police say the probe has found breaches of confidentiality and fairness in the MPSC examination. Officers are also examining allegations that official duties were misused to access, withdraw and exchange question papers for financial gain.
Those arrested earlier include former Under Secretary Abhijit Lendve; Assistant Chamber Officers Visheshwar Nakate and Gopal Marathe; Kautilya Academy director Praveen Patil; alleged middlemen Amrit Patil and Lokesh alias Gaurav Patil; and candidate Rituja Patil.
The SIT is continuing its investigation and is looking at whether others were involved in the alleged leak.
The case had already drawn large protests among MPSC aspirants. On September 7, thousands of candidates marched in Pune, demanding greater transparency in the commission’s functioning and the removal of its chairman, Vivek Bhimanwar.
According to the Crime Branch, information about the alleged leak reached the MPSC after a personal dispute. Police allege that Lokesh alias Gaurav Patil, 24, received the leaked paper from his then girlfriend, Rituja Patil, before the March 22 examination. After the two separated, investigators say, he approached the commission. Police allege he was concerned that Rituja Patil would move on after securing a government job.
The Crime Branch is still trying to establish the full chain through which the paper was obtained and circulated, and the roles of the candidates, alleged middlemen and others named in the case.