MPSC drug inspector exam scam: Mumbai Crime Branch arrests 7th rank holder Rutuja Patil
Synopsis
The MPSC Drug Inspector exam scam has claimed its seventh arrest — and arguably its most revealing. Rutuja Patil, ranked seventh on the merit list, says she was told to deliberately get 10 answers wrong to avoid suspicion. The cover-up collapsed not through police work but through a personal breakup, with her ex-boyfriend turning whistleblower and handing over digital evidence.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai Crime Branch arrested Rutuja Patil , the 7th rank-holder in the MPSC Drug Inspector Group-B exam, from Nandurbar on Tuesday.
She is the 7th person arrested in the case; previous detainees include 3 MPSC officials .
Patil, 25 , admitted she was instructed to answer 10 out of 100 questions incorrectly to avoid raising suspicion.
The leaked paper was allegedly passed to her through her father and then to her boyfriend Gaurav Patil on 20 March , two days before the 22 March exam.
The scam came to light after Gaurav turned whistleblower following a personal fallout with Rutuja, sharing digital evidence with police.
The MPSC has cancelled the entire Drug Inspector Group-B recruitment process following a preliminary inquiry.
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch on Tuesday arrested Rutuja Patil, the seventh rank-holder on the provisional merit list for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Drug Inspector Group-B examination, from Nandurbar. The arrest makes her the seventh person held in connection with the alleged question paper leak that prompted the MPSC to cancel the entire recruitment process.
Background: How the Scam Unravelled
The Drug Inspector screening examination, conducted under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Department, was held on 22 March this year. A preliminary inquiry into alleged malpractice found that at least one candidate had received the question paper before the exam. The MPSC, citing the gravity of the findings, subsequently cancelled the full recruitment process for the Group-B posts.
According to investigators, the leaked question set was allegedly passed to Rutuja Patil through her father, who received it through other channels. She reportedly handed the papers to her then-boyfriend, Gaurav Patil, on 20 March — two days before the examination. The alleged cover-up unravelled after the two had a personal falling-out, prompting Gaurav to turn whistleblower and share digital evidence of the leaked questions with police.
What Rutuja Patil Told Reporters
The 25-year-old Patil, speaking to reporters, said she had been instructed to deliberately answer 10 questions incorrectly in the 100-question exam. According to her account, she was told by other accused that answering all 100 questions correctly would raise suspicion. Despite this, she secured the seventh rank on the provisional merit list.
She also reportedly admitted to being aware of a plan to conceal the irregularities in the MPSC examination process.
Arrests So Far
Prior to Tuesday's arrest, the Mumbai Crime Branch had already detained six individuals, including three MPSC officials, in connection with the case. Complainants alleged that certain candidates gained access to the question papers before the exam and that social media and other electronic means were used to distribute them to prospective buyers.
What Happens Next
Investigators are continuing to examine digital evidence provided by the whistleblower. The cancellation of the Drug Inspector recruitment process leaves a significant number of legitimate candidates in limbo. With seven arrests made and MPSC officials among those detained, scrutiny of the commission's internal safeguards is expected to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
Suggesting the leak did not originate solely from outside the system. What is equally striking is that the entire cover-up collapsed because of a personal dispute — not surveillance, not an audit trail. Maharashtra's public recruitment machinery has faced repeated credibility questions, and this episode, with its pre-exam paper distribution via social media, points to a systemic failure in question-paper security protocols that the MPSC has yet to publicly address.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rutuja Patil and why was she arrested?
Rutuja Patil is a 25-year-old candidate who ranked seventh on the provisional merit list for the MPSC Drug Inspector Group-B exam. She was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch from Nandurbar on Tuesday for her alleged role in the question paper leak scam, making her the seventh person held in the case.
What is the MPSC Drug Inspector exam paper leak case?
The case involves the alleged leaking of question papers for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission Drug Inspector Group-B screening exam held on 22 March. Investigators allege that certain candidates received the papers before the exam through social media and other electronic channels. The MPSC cancelled the entire recruitment process after a preliminary inquiry confirmed malpractice.
How did the paper leak come to light?
The scam was exposed after Rutuja Patil's then-boyfriend Gaurav Patil turned whistleblower following a personal falling-out. He provided police with digital evidence of the leaked questions that Rutuja had allegedly sent him, which triggered the formal investigation.
How many people have been arrested so far?
As of Tuesday, seven people have been arrested in connection with the case, including three MPSC officials. Rutuja Patil is the latest and seventh accused to be taken into custody.
What happens to candidates who appeared in the cancelled exam?
The MPSC has cancelled the entire Drug Inspector Group-B recruitment process. Candidates who appeared in the exam will need to wait for a fresh recruitment cycle to be announced, as the current process has been revoked following the confirmed malpractice inquiry.
