Police in Maharashtra have arrested a coaching institute director in connection with the alleged Class 12 Chemistry question paper leak during the Maharashtra HSC Board Exams 2026. The arrest was made in the Umred area of Nagpur district, where investigators believe the leak may have originated. The case has raised concerns about exam security and the role of private coaching centres in the circulation of examination material.
Arrest Made in Nagpur’s Umred Area
According to police officials, the accused has been identified as Atul Jagan Chaudhary (38), director of a coaching institute known as Target Academy Science in Umred. Authorities said the arrest followed an inquiry into suspicious similarities between a coaching class test and the actual board examination paper. Investigators revealed that the institute had conducted a chemistry practice test shortly before the board examination, and several questions from that test reportedly resembled those in the official exam paper. Based on these findings, a case was registered at Umred police station under the Prevention of Malpractices in Examinations Act.
How the Suspected Paper Leak Came to Light?
The issue first surfaced during the Maharashtra HSC Chemistry examination held on 18 February 2026. Invigilators at an exam centre reportedly became suspicious when a student repeatedly visited the washroom during the exam .Upon checking the student’s mobile phone, supervisors allegedly found questions similar to the exam paper circulating in a WhatsApp group before the exam began. This discovery triggered a police investigation into a possible paper leak network.
SIT Formed to Investigate the Paper Leak Network
Following the arrest, authorities have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the full scope of the incident. The team will investigate whether other individuals, coaching centres, or intermediaries were involved in sharing the question paper Police officials believe the case may involve a larger network connected to exam preparation centres, prompting deeper investigation into digital evidence such as phones and messaging platforms.
Board Response and Impact on Students
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has also launched its own inquiry into the incident. Despite the allegations, the board previously indicated that the situation did not warrant a re-examination for the Chemistry paper. The HSC board exams in Maharashtra began on 10 February 2026 and are scheduled to continue until 11 March 2026 across multiple examination centres in the state. Education authorities have assured students that strict action will be taken against those involved in examination malpractice while ensuring that the evaluation process remains fair for all candidates.