No evidence of paper leak in Maharashtra Class 10 Mathematics exam; Telegram group under police probe: Board

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education MSBSHSE has clarified that there is no prima facie evidence of a paper leak in the Secondary School Certificate Class 10 FebruaryndashMarch 2026 Mathematics examination despite reports published in some newspapersThe board said a Telegram group claiming to provide exam papers appears to be part of an attempt to financially cheat studentsOn Wednesday evening Dr Deepak Mali secretary MSBSHSE Pune issued a letter to mediaAmid reports of a possible leak of the Class 10 Mathematics examination paper MSBSHSE has stated that preliminary verification has found no proof that the question paper was circulated before the examination beganAccording to an official report issued by the board a complaint was received on Monday through the state boardrsquos complaint tab regarding a Telegram link where the examination paper was allegedly being circulatedFollowing the complaint officials visited the link and verified a Telegram group titled ldquoMaharashtra State Board 2026 Paperrdquo The group claimed that the Mathematics Part1 paper conducted on March 6 had been circulated a day earlier However the board said there is no confirmation that the paper was actually available before the exam and the matter is currently being investigated by the policeMaharashtra SSC Exam 2026 FIR filed police investigation underwayDuring verification officials also found that a message posted in the group on March 6 at 456 pm claimed that the Mathematics Part2 paper scheduled for Monday March 9 would be made available The message asked users to send a direct message DM to obtain the paperLater when the link was checked again on Monday at 547 pm a suspected user in the group had posted a PDF link with a password claiming it contained the Mathematics Part2 question paper However the board said the PDF became available only after the Mathematics Part2 examination had already concluded on that dayThe same Telegram group also posted a message at 547 pm on Monday stating that ldquoScience1 and Science2 papers are availablerdquoBased on the complaint the Pune Divisional Board immediately filed a first information report FIR at Shivajinagar Police Station on the same day initiating a formal investigation into the matterTo verify the claims further officials from the Pune Divisional Board and the police department contacted the group administrator on Tuesday and requested the Science1 examination paper scheduled for Wednesday The suspected administrator demanded Rs 600 for providing the paper which was paid as part of the verification processHowever until the Science1 examination began on Wednesday morning the group administrator did not provide the question paper the report saidBased on the findings so far the board said there is no indication that the Mathematics Part2 or Science1 papers were available on the Telegram group before the examinations started In fact the Mathematics Part2 paper was uploaded only after the exam ended on Monday the report notedThe board further stated that the Telegram group appears to have been created by unknown individuals to lure students with promises of providing SSC and HSC exam papers in exchange for money indicating a possible case of online financial fraudMessages were posted in the group claiming that exam papers would be made available before the exams However instead of sharing papers publicly in PDF form users were asked to send private messages and pay money to obtain them suggesting that the primary intent was to cheat studentsThe board also clarified that no complaint has been received so far stating that either the Mathematics Part1 or Mathematics Part2 question papers were circulated before the examinations beganTherefore the board said that reports published in some newspapers suggesting a paper leak do not appear to have factual basis at present though the police investigation into the Telegram group is ongoing