TET Paper Leak Probe: Solapur Coaching Institute Operator Becomes First Maharashtra-Based Arrest; 26 Students’ Documents Recovered In Bihar

Bhiwandi Police have arrested Prakash Pawar, 45, the operator of a competitive examination coaching institute in Solapur. He is the first arrest from Maharashtra in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak case. Pawar was questioned and subsequently arrested, with a court remanding him to police custody until August 15. The arrest is significant as it establishes a Maharashtra link in the investigation, which has previously led to arrests in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

Dhruv Academy, the institute run by Pawar, provides coaching for various competitive exams, including TET preparation.

In Samastipur, Bihar, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) recovered original educational documents belonging to 26 students from different districts of Maharashtra. The documents included Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets and certificates, graduation certificates, B.Ed. and D.Ed.-related certificates, domicile certificates, and other important original documents.

According to ACP Vijay Marathe, the investigation indicates that the certificates were allegedly pledged by Pawar as security against the leaked TET paper. The police have issued notices to several students, questioning them about how their original certificates reached the accused. Some students have confessed studying at Pawar's academy, verifying the recovered documents as their own.

Investigators are now examining the circumstances surrounding the handing over of the documents and whether they were collected specifically for the TET paper or for other examination-related purposes.