Price of Maharashtra TET leaked paper? Rs 1 lakh – but first, hand over your original documents

In a shocking case, nearly 3,500-page chargesheet filed by the Thane City police has revealed that candidates willing to purchase leaked Maharashtra Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) papers for up to Rs 1 lakh were required to hand over their original educational documents as collateral. The accused agents would then collect these marksheets and other documents from the students, keeping them until payment was made after the exam.

The papers were sold at varying prices, ranging from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The police have arrested 16 of the 18 accused persons, including Prakash Pawar, who allegedly met Ashokkumar Sao in Delhi and handed over the original educational documents of 26 students. These documents were later seized during a search at another accused's residence.

The arrangement was designed to ensure that candidates received the same leaked paper, but it also created a loophole, as students or agents might refuse to pay even after the exam. Lawyer Shailesh Gaikwad, representing the accused, claims there is insufficient evidence against his clients, which will become apparent during the trial.

The leak occurred just two days before the June 28 exams, which were subsequently postponed. The mastermind behind the scheme is identified as Bijendra Gupta, a former coaching-class teacher with a history of similar cases.