Police have launched an investigation after the Class 12 Chemistry question paper was allegedly circulated on social media before the Maharashtra Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination in Nagpur, officials said on Saturday.
The suspected malpractice came to light on Wednesday at an examination centre in the city when invigilators noticed unusual behaviour by a female student during the exam. According to officials, the student made repeated visits to the washroom, which raised suspicion among the examination staff.
Invigilators then checked the student and seized her mobile phone. During a preliminary examination of the device, they found that the Chemistry question paper had already been shared on a WhatsApp group before the examination began.
Officials said that along with the question paper, possible answers had also been circulated in the same group.
Following this, the matter was reported to the authorities, and police were informed. Based on the student’s statement, another student has also come under the scanner and is currently being questioned as part of the investigation.
Police said the initial findings point to the possible involvement of a person linked to a private coaching institute. The individual is suspected of sharing the question paper in exchange for money. However, officials said the exact source of the paper and how it was accessed before the examination is still under investigation.
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has taken note of the incident. In an earlier clarification, the board stated that it was not treating the case as a confirmed paper leak at this stage and said no re-examination had been announced.
Officials said the investigation is focusing on tracing the origin of the message and identifying others who may have been involved in circulating the paper.
The incident has once again raised concerns over examination security and the role of digital platforms in facilitating malpractice. With smartphones and messaging applications widely used, authorities face increasing challenges in ensuring fair conduct of board examinations.
Police said further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing probe. If the allegations are confirmed, those involved could face charges under relevant sections related to cheating and violation of examination rules.
The Maharashtra board conducts the HSC examinations for lakhs of students every year, and the Chemistry paper is an important subject for those planning to pursue higher education in science and related fields.
