Nagpur HSC Exam Paper Leak Exposes Deep-Rooted Tuition-School Nexus
In a shocking revelation, the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination paper leak in Nagpur has exposed a well-organized nexus between prominent tuition centers and reputed schools serving as exam centers. The Sadar police have arrested four individuals and charged one minor in connection with the case over the last 24 hours, uncovering a coordinated racket that goes far beyond isolated incidents.
Arrests Confirm Coordinated Racket, Not Isolated Acts
Late Sunday arrests confirmed investigators' suspicions that the leak was not the work of a lone teacher or student. Instead, it involved a sophisticated network of school insiders, tuition barons, and multiple WhatsApp groups that circulated exam papers within minutes of sealed packets being opened. Police are not ruling out the potential involvement of state board members in this widespread scam.
How the Investigation Unfolded
The probe began on February 16 when a Class 12 girl was caught with the physics question paper. Tracing the source, police first apprehended 40-year-old Nishikant Mool of Mankapur, who had recently resumed his tuition classes after a long break. Mool allegedly forwarded both the physics paper (February 16) and chemistry paper (February 18) in his private WhatsApp group of Class 12 students.
During interrogation, Mool revealed he was part of an exclusive WhatsApp group with only six members—five students and himself. He received the papers from a Class 12 student traced to a well-known tuition academy in Mominpura, central Nagpur. This minor was charged with undertaking unfair means and made a co-accused in the case.
Raid on Top Tuition Brand Office
Police subsequently raided the top tuition brand office in Mominpura, leading to the arrest of Junaid Muhammad Abdul Javed, an employee of a Mominpura academy. Junaid had shared the papers in the academy's internal WhatsApp group and told police he received the exam papers from the official mobile number of the tuition institute where he served as class coordinator.
Hours later, the academy owner, Mustafa Khan Munir Khan of Bhankhera, was also taken into custody. "However, the person who forwarded the question papers to the Mominpura-based tuition academy is on the run," said a police officer. Multiple mobile phones and chat screenshots were seized to establish the chain of evidence.
Fourth Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
The fourth arrest involved Class 12 student Farhan Akhtar, who allegedly supplied answer keys of the leaked papers. Senior Inspector Amol Deshmukh is leading the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case under the supervision of zonal DCP Nityanand Jha, joint CP Navinchandra Reddy, and CP Ravinder Singal.
Timing of Leaks Provides Critical Evidence
Police sources indicate the timing of the leaks—between 10:30 AM and 10:40 AM—serves as clinching evidence that photographs were taken inside exam centers immediately after confidential packets were opened for distribution.
"Schools designated as exam centers receive papers from the board's strong room. Someone inside may have clicked photographs in the confidential section and forwarded them to tuition operators. From there, the papers went viral on multiple WhatsApp groups of top coaching classes across the city," an official explained.
Scope of the Scam and Future Actions
Investigators suspect the number of beneficiaries exceeds 50 students who received papers and answer keys before exams. "The scam is much bigger than what has surfaced so far. We are likely to make more arrests in the coming days," the officer added.
The SIT is now examining call detail records, WhatsApp chat histories, and financial transactions of all accused to identify the school-level insider who first photographed the papers. Police have also issued notices to several other prominent tuition centers as the investigation continues to expand.
