Maharashtra TET paper leak: STF detains three in Hajipur cyber cafe raid
Synopsis
The Maharashtra TET paper leak probe has crossed state lines — the STF's late-night raid on a Hajipur cyber cafe, detaining three people including the operator, signals how deep the network may run. With an alleged Bihar-based mastermind still at large and over 4.28 lakh candidates left in limbo, this is a multi-state criminal operation targeting one of India's largest teacher recruitment pipelines.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra STF and Thane Police , assisted by Vaishali Police , raided a cyber cafe on Kachhari Road, Hajipur on Wednesday night .
Three individuals, including cafe operator Sonu Kumar , were detained for questioning; no formal arrests announced.
Investigators recovered digital devices and documents, which will undergo forensic examination.
Alleged mastermind Bijendra Gupta of Samastipur, Bihar remains at large; his wife was earlier questioned in Patna .
The Maharashtra TET was cancelled after the paper was allegedly leaked 24 hours before the 28 June exam date.
More than 4.28 lakh candidates had registered for the cancelled examination.
The Maharashtra Special Task Force (STF), backed by Vaishali Police, conducted a late-night raid on a cyber cafe on Kachhari Road, Hajipur on Wednesday night as part of the widening investigation into the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak. Three individuals, including cafe operator Sonu Kumar, were detained for questioning, with the search operation continuing until approximately 1:00 am on Thursday.
What Happened During the Raid
A joint team comprising the Maharashtra STF and Thane Police, with assistance from Vaishali Police, descended on the cyber cafe in the early hours of Thursday. Investigators examined documents and digital devices on the premises over several hours. According to police sources, multiple digital items and documents were recovered and will undergo forensic examination.
A Maharashtra Police official said, 'This case is linked to the Maharashtra TET paper leak. We came here to investigate in connection with this matter; we have recovered some suspicious documents, and further action is underway.' No formal arrests have been announced; the three detained individuals are currently being questioned by the Maharashtra STF.
Family Unaware Until Morning
Sonu Kumar's elder brother, Jitendra Kumar, said Sonu had left for Hajipur on Wednesday evening and did not return home. According to Jitendra, Sonu's wife informed the family that he was not responding to calls, prompting them to search for him through the night before learning of the police action on Thursday morning.
Investigation Spreads Across States
The Maharashtra TET paper leak probe has already led to arrests in Maharashtra, Bihar, and Haryana. Investigators have identified Bijendra Gupta, a resident of Samastipur district in Bihar, as the alleged mastermind behind the network. Raids are being conducted across multiple states to trace Gupta. The Maharashtra STF had earlier detained and questioned his wife in Patna as part of a parallel financial investigation into the alleged leak.
Scale of the Exam and Cancellation
More than 4.28 lakh candidates had registered for the Maharashtra TET examination. The question paper was allegedly leaked approximately 24 hours before the scheduled date of 28 June, prompting the Maharashtra State Examination Council to cancel the test entirely. The cancellation has disrupted the plans of hundreds of thousands of aspiring teachers across the state.
What Comes Next
The Maharashtra Police team continues its operations in Bihar, and officials have indicated that further action will be determined by evidence gathered during the ongoing probe. The forensic analysis of seized digital devices and documents is expected to be a critical next step in establishing the full chain of the alleged leak network.
Point of View
Inter-state operation, not opportunistic cheating. What remains unaddressed is how the paper left the examination authority's custody in the first place; arrests at the distribution end do not answer the upstream question. With over 4.28 lakh candidates stranded, the Maharashtra State Examination Council also owes a credible timeline for re-conducting the exam — something that has so far received far less scrutiny than the police action.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maharashtra TET paper leak case?
The Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper was allegedly leaked approximately 24 hours before the scheduled examination on 28 June, prompting the Maharashtra State Examination Council to cancel the test. More than 4.28 lakh candidates who had registered for the exam were affected by the cancellation.
Who was detained in the Hajipur cyber cafe raid?
Three individuals were detained during the late-night raid on a cyber cafe on Kachhari Road in Hajipur, including the cafe operator Sonu Kumar. They are currently being questioned by the Maharashtra STF; no formal arrests have been announced.
Who is the alleged mastermind behind the Maharashtra TET paper leak?
Investigators have identified Bijendra Gupta, a resident of Samastipur district in Bihar, as the alleged mastermind behind the paper leak network. He remains at large, and raids are being conducted across multiple states to trace him.
Which states are involved in the Maharashtra TET leak investigation?
The investigation has spread across Maharashtra, Bihar, and Haryana, with arrests and detentions reported in all three states. The Maharashtra STF has been conducting coordinated raids with local police forces in Bihar, including in Patna and Hajipur.
What happens next in the Maharashtra TET paper leak probe?
Further action by the Maharashtra Police will depend on evidence gathered during the ongoing probe, including forensic analysis of digital devices and documents seized from the Hajipur cyber cafe. A re-examination date for the over 4.28 lakh affected candidates has not yet been officially announced.
