Navi Mumbai, September 11 (Daily Kiran) : Anger surrounding the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) paper leak scandal has escalated in Navi Mumbai. On Friday, members of the Sambhaji Brigade targeted MPSC Secretary Mahendra Harpalkar, throwing black ink on his face, as calls for MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar’s resignation intensified.
Footage of the incident quickly spread across social media, capturing the mounting frustration of students preparing for competitive exams in key cities like Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Santosh Shinde, spokesperson for the Sambhaji Brigade, defended the act, stating it reflected the disappointment of 2.5 million MPSC candidates and the 120 million citizens of Maharashtra.
“This act of throwing ink and slapping MPSC officials is a direct response from the public against a corrupt system and an incompetent government,” Shinde remarked.
In response to the incident, Rohit Pawar, a legislator from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad faction), acknowledged the students’ anger but distanced his party from the violent protest. “There is no doubt that the MPSC Chairman and Secretary have jeopardized students’ futures through paper leaks and corruption. However, our protests must remain constitutional. The Constitution given by Babasaheb Ambedkar is powerful, and we will succeed through it. We do not support actions like throwing ink,” he stated.
Vijay Wadettiwar, leader of the Congress legislative party, described the inking incident as an expression of deep dissatisfaction among millions of students and parents towards the state government. “We do not condone violence. No one should take the law into their own hands, but the government must take this incident seriously and address the students’ demands. Ignoring their feelings could prove costly,” he warned.
State Home Minister Yogesh Kadam condemned the attack, warning protestors of strict legal action. “While such protests may gain publicity, they do not resolve the issue. The state government is taking the paper leak seriously and will act firmly against anyone found guilty, but we will not tolerate activities that disrupt law and order,” he said.
This incident occurred a day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the MPSC Group B and C preliminary and main exams (2025). Following a meeting with MPSC candidates, Fadnavis stated, “We will conduct a thorough investigation into the paper leaks and irregularities in the MPSC exams held over the past two years. The question papers for the 2025 main exams will be re-evaluated completely. Until the investigation is complete, interview schedules for the relevant recruitment processes will be temporarily halted.”
Tensions further escalated in Dharashiv when Maratha activists blocked Minister Kadam’s convoy en route to Paranda, expressing their anger over the government’s indifference to the ongoing hunger strike of Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil. The protestors were also upset by Kadam’s recent public warning against using derogatory language towards Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The crowd’s demands led to a temporary disruption, necessitating a heavy police presence at the scene.
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