Sahil Wakode death: Global Dalit groups demand accountability from IIT Bombay
The Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA) and a coalition of Dalit and Ambedkarite organisations from North America and Europe have condemned IIT Bombay’s handling of the death of Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student from the Scheduled Caste community who died on 18 September 2026, hours after he was removed from an examination. His family has alleged caste-based harassment, and an FIR under the SC/ST Act names an IIT Bombay faculty member. The organisations said IIT Bombay did not wait for the truth and, within a day, publicly stated that Sahil had been caught using ChatGPT in his examination. They argued that an institution whose faculty member was named in an FIR publicly presented its version of a dead student’s conduct before the facts were established, calling it extremely irresponsible and saying it fuelled hostility against Sahil and the SC/ST community. The coalition said the most important questions remain unanswered, including whether examination procedures were properly followed, what happened after Sahil was removed from the hall, what occurred in the Dean’s office, and why examination-hall CCTV was leaked and circulated while footage from the Dean’s office and surrounding areas remains undisclosed. It also criticised the response of the SC/ST Cell and Faculty Forum at IIT Bombay, saying the SC/ST Cell issued statements defending the institution while the investigation was still underway, and that three days after Sahil’s death the Faculty Forum organised a march supporting a faculty member named in the FIR. The organisations added that they had received highly concerning reports of discrimination against SC/ST students following the filing of Sahil’s parents’ complaint at the police station. Demanding action, the organisations said IIT Bombay must retract its premature public characterisation of Sahil’s conduct, apologise to his family, and ensure an independent investigation with SC/ST representation and external experts. They demanded that IIT Bombay and Mumbai Police secure all CCTV footage from the examination hall, surrounding corridors and the Dean’s office, provide it to investigators and Sahil’s family or counsel, and identify those responsible for the leak. They also said the Maharashtra government and Mumbai Police must establish a time-bound Special Investigation Team to fully investigate the allegations against the accused professor and ensure that evidence and witnesses are protected. Central and regulatory authorities must fill vacant SC/ST/OBC faculty positions in IITs and central institutions through a time-bound process and conduct a nationwide audit of SC/ST representation, reservation and PhD admissions, while the NCSC, Maharashtra SC/ST Commission, UGC and Ministry of Education must take suo motu cognizance and institute a nationwide audit of SC/ST students’ experiences, complaints and institutional grievance mechanisms, the statement said. Addressing SC/ST students of IIT Bombay, the organisations said they are not alone and are not on trial. They asked those needing support to contact aanausa@gmail.com and promised to stand with them and protect their identity. By A Representative Courtesy : Counterview Note: This news is originally published on https:/counterview.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Why are student protests at IIT Bombay continuing after Sahil Wakode’s death? APPSC reveals the full story!
Students allege that Professor Doola deviates from established invigilation procedures and has further tightened the examination code in recent semesters. According to the students, Doola is known for a style of “making an example of some to punish others,” and they demand his removal from all teaching and administrative positions. Mumbai – Protests have been ongoing at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) campus for the past six days. This outrage was sparked by the death by suicide of student Sahil Wakode on the night of Friday, September 18. The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC-IIT Bombay), a group representing Bahujan students, has issued a detailed statement explaining the reasons behind the ongoing protests. Sahil Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year B.Tech student, hailed from Yavatmal, Maharashtra. On the afternoon of September 18, he was accused of misusing a mobile phone during an examination. Professor Suryanarayana Doola, the exam invigilator and Dean of Student Affairs, escorted Sahil out of the examination hall. According to the APPSC statement, Sahil was questioned privately in the presence of two other professors and threatened with a one-year academic suspension—despite institute rules mandating that a student be allowed to complete the exam even in cases of alleged misconduct. That same evening, Sahil was found dead in his hostel room. News of the incident triggered massive outrage within the student community, and a large number of students gathered at the main gate that very night. Students linked not only Sahil’s death but also three other deaths that occurred last year during Director Shirish Kedare’s tenure—those of Sohail, Naman, and Rohit—to a lack of administrative accountability. Students’ Key Demands: Resignation and Accountability According to the APPSC, the students’ primary and unwavering demand is for Director Shirish Kedare to resign. Students state that during Kedare’s two-year tenure, campus security was tightened, social and communal spaces were closed, and punitive measures—such as fines, academic suspensions, and hostel evictions—were arbitrarily imposed. The second major demand concerns Professor Doola. Students allege that Doola operates outside established invigilation procedures and is credited with making examination codes stricter in recent semesters. Students claim Doola is known for a style of “punishing a few to set an example for the rest” and argue that he should be removed from all teaching and administrative positions. According to the APPSC, Professor Doola took a student named Sahil out of the examination hall, interrogated him privately in the presence of two other professors, and threatened him with a one-year academic suspension; this occurred despite institute rules mandating that a student be allowed to complete the exam even in cases of alleged misconduct. The Night of September 20: Compromise or Betrayal? On the evening of September 20, while the Director himself was present among the gathered students, the Student Council—described by the APPSC as a “nominated body” that undermines student demands—allegedly colluded with members of a right-wing leaning group called “IIT-B for Bharat” to intimidate students, seize the microphone, and silence voices raising the original grievances. The APPSC alleges that the charter of demands signed by the Director did not align with the students’ actual demands. According to available reports, Kedare stated that night, “I will resign, but due process must be followed, and I will announce my decision after Monday’s meeting,” before signing the 18-point charter of demands. However, the institute later denied reports of Kedare’s resignation. While Professor Doola was suspended from his position as Dean, he was not removed from his teaching role. At the open house held on the evening of September 21, a large number of Faculty Forum members arrived with banners and posters to rally in support of Doola—a move the student organization termed a “mockery of claims about bridging the gap between the administration and students.” According to reports, the Faculty Forum maintained that Doola had acted in accordance with institutional procedure when he caught Wakode engaging in the “unauthorized use” of a mobile phone during an examination. The institute’s 750-member Faculty Forum has also spoken of planning a campus march in support of Doola. The brazen manner in which the Faculty Forum demonstrated solidarity with Doola on the evening of the 21st—welcoming him to the open house amidst a crowd carrying banners and posters—makes a mockery of the measures the IIT had promised to take to improve relations between students and the administration. – Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC) Concerns of Dalit Students and the Caste Dimension Dalit students on campus feel increasingly insecure following these events, and there have been reports of a rise in casteist remarks and abuse. It is worth noting that this is not the first time allegations of caste-based discrimination have surfaced following a student’s death at IIT-B; after the death of Dalit student Darshan Solanki in 2023, the APPSC had termed it an “institutional murder.” Regarding the Sahil Wakode case, media reports citing the police investigation indicate that no mention of caste was found in his final conversation with a female friend; however, this does not entirely refute the students’ claims regarding the prevailing atmosphere on campus. The APPSC has directly alleged that the Student Council worked to dismantle the initial spontaneous solidarity under the guise of “proceduralism” and collaborated with the administration to suppress student voices during the open house on September 21. The statement further asserts that students who consistently demand accountability are being subjected to a “witch-hunt,” proving that the administration has no intention of ensuring accountability or implementing reforms. The APPSC demands the immediate resignation of this “casteist, authoritarian, and dictatorial administration.” Students are demanding the resignation of Director Kedare, the removal of Professor Doola from all positions, and an independent inquiry into the deaths that have occurred over the past few years, including that of Sahil. Students are dismissing the emails sent by the institute regarding mental health counselors as “hollow solace,” arguing that the real issue—a punitive administrative culture—remains unchanged. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Father of dalit IIT-Bombay student who died by suicide in 2023 detained at stir
MUMBAI: The father of a dalit IIT-B student who died by suicide in 2023, Darshan Solanki, was detained by Powai police along with others protesting caste discrimination on the campus on Monday. According to a letter signed by the father, Rameshbhai Solanki, which was shared online, he sought a meeting with IIT-B director Shireesh Kedare to discuss steps taken after the three deaths by suicide at the institute this year. The protesters were denied entry into campus. Tejaswin Anoopkumar, one of the protesters, alleged that he was “brutally manhandled” by police and that his clothes were torn. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
IIT-Bombay students press for 18 demands after Dalit student’s suicide
In a late-night meeting on Sunday, institute director Shireesh Kedare held discussions with the protesting students. In the case involving the suicide of a Dalit student, the Board of Governors of IIT-Bombay will meet on Monday to discuss the issue, amid protests by students who are pressing for 18 demands. An open house with students is also expected to be held. In a late-night meeting on Sunday, institute director Shireesh Kedare held discussions with the protesting students. Sahil Wakode, 20, a student at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, died by suicide in his hostel room after he was allegedly caught using his mobile phone during an examination on Friday (September 18). The students accused Professor Sooryanarayana Doola, who was an invigilator in the exam hall where Sahil was taking his mid-term examination on Friday, of pushing him to take the extreme step. Sahil’s parents filed an FIR against Doola and other institute officials, accusing them of abetment and harassment over the past three months. The students have demanded Doola’s suspension. They have also demanded a public apology for allegedly “defaming” Sahil and an open house with all stakeholders before September 22, according to a report. Meanwhile, the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has expressed solidarity with exam invigilator Suryanarayana Doolla, saying that he was following institutional protocol after discovering that the student was in “unauthorised possession and use of a smartphone.” Sahil’s is the third reported case of suicide at the IIT Bombay campus in Powai in seven months. In February, a second-year student died by suicide in a hostel. In July 2026, at the beginning of the new semester, a 20-year-old second-year BTech student also died by suicide. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit student at IIT Bombay commits suicide; father says a professor used to make ‘casteist’ comments about his son
DCP Dattatreya Nalawade of Mumbai Police stated that a case has been registered under sections of abetment to suicide, the SC/ST Act, and other relevant sections, and an investigation is underway against all individuals named by the family. Mumbai – Following the suicide of a second-year student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay’s Powai campus on Friday evening, his family has leveled serious allegations of caste discrimination and institutional harassment. The deceased student has been identified as Sahil Ravindra Wakode (22), a resident of Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district and a second-year B.Tech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay. Sahil belonged to the Scheduled Caste community, and his classmates describe him as a very hardworking student who had achieved an 8.5 CGPA in his first year. An FIR has been registered at the Powai police station in this case, which has been charged under the SC/ST Act following allegations from family members, and the investigation has now been transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. This is reported to be the third suicide case reported on the IIT Bombay campus this year. Sahil was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room in Hostel No. 4 on Friday evening. When his roommates received no response, they informed the administration, which then called the police. No suicide note was recovered from the scene, and the police initially reported the case as an accidental death. According to the IIT Bombay administration, Sahil was caught using a mobile phone in the examination hall on the day of the incident and attempted to find answers by uploading the question paper to ChatGPT. The institute also clarified that no disciplinary action was initiated against the student following the incident. The institute stated that Sahil was assured that the incident would not impact his academic future. The institute has pledged support to Sahil’s friends, classmates, teachers, and others affected by the incident. It also stated that the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated. According to students, Sahil was asked to leave the hall after an alleged confrontation during an exam and was reprimanded by a professor in the corridor. About an hour after this alleged confrontation, Sahil hanged himself in his hostel room, and his body was recovered around 6 p.m. Sahil’s mother, Sonali Wakode, spoke to the media on Saturday, directly alleging that her son had been subjected to caste-based harassment and torture. She also alleged that he had been assaulted and demanded justice. Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode (47), alleged that for the past few months, Professor Suryanarayan Dulla of the Department of Energy Sciences had been making caste-based remarks and mentally harassing his son. The father demanded the professor’s immediate arrest and a Crime Branch investigation into the matter. However, all these allegations are still under investigation and have not been independently verified. The father also claimed that the professor threatened to implicate Sahil in a false case. Following the family’s complaint, a case has been registered at the Powai police station under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. DCP Dattatreya Nalawade of Mumbai Police stated that the case has been registered under sections of abetment to suicide and other relevant sections, and an investigation is underway against all the individuals named by the family. The family initially refused to accept Sahil’s body, but later accepted it when the case was handed over to the Crime Branch on Saturday night. An ACP-rank officer will now lead the investigation. Protests on Campus As news of the death spread, a large number of students gathered, surrounded the office of Director Shirish Kedare, and demanded the resignation of both the Director and Professor Dulla. The students also blocked the main gate of the institute, prompting police to arrive. By late evening, approximately 400 students had gathered, and by midnight, the number had grown to over a thousand. A third-year electrical student said during the protest that this was the third such incident at IIT Bombay this year and the second in the last two months. Students are demanding accountability and transparency from the administration. Another student described the incident as shocking, saying, “It feels like one of us has been left behind. The situation is still management versus students, but first, we should remember the soul that left us.” Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse, reacting to the incident, said that the government will conduct a thorough investigation and ensure appropriate action. The Darshan Solanki Case Recalls This is not the first time allegations of caste discrimination have surfaced at IIT Bombay. In February 2023, first-year B.Tech student Darshan Solanki jumped to his death from the seventh floor of his hostel, and his family had also alleged caste discrimination. According to Solanki’s mother’s statement, recorded in the police chargesheet, Darshan had told his mother that his fellow students’ behavior had changed when they learned about his caste. This incident marks the third student suicide at IIT Bombay in six months, raising serious questions about student mental health at higher education institutions nationwide. Between October 2022 and October 2025, 154,046 college students aged 18-25 called the Tele-Manas helpline, of which approximately 4%, or 5,642, were related to suicide-related concerns. The Supreme Court has also underscored the severity of this crisis, with 13,044 student suicides recorded in 2022 alone, representing 7.6% of the total suicides that year. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Inside India’s first transwomen rescue squad, trained in Kolhapur
The first batch of 10 transwomen, all associated with the Kolhapur-based Maitri NGO, went through their inaugural training module from May 26 to 28. In the last week of August, a group of people gathered at Rajaram Lake, pulled on orange life jackets, checked their ropes, and spent 10 days practising rescue drills in the water. It looked like routine disaster-response training – until you learned who they were. This is India’s first transgender disaster management and rescue team, and for its members, the life jacket has come to mean something far bigger than safety gear. The Kolhapur District Disaster Management Authority has trained over 2,500 volunteers in the last decade. In 2019, it created the state’s first all-women rescue unit, the ‘Aapda Sakhi’ team, which now counts more than 500 trained volunteers. But ahead of this year’s monsoon, officials decided to try something unique. “We thought, why not train a transwomen team,” said Prasad Sankpal, District Disaster Management Officer, Kolhapur. “So a first-of-its-kind transgender disaster management and rescue team initiative was begun in the country.” The first batch of 10 transwomen, all associated with the Kolhapur-based Maitri NGO, went through their inaugural training module from May 26 to 28. Since then, the district has trained 15 transwomen in total, with fresh rounds of practice held every three months – the most recent a 10-day exercise at Rajaram Lake in the last week of August. Recruits learned rescue swimming, how to operate an inflatable rescue boat, dry and wet lifesaving techniques, motorboat handling and maintenance, and First Aid and CPR. “So far the results are excellent,” Sankpal said. “The institutional strengthening is already visible – the volunteers now help victims of road accidents without any instructions.” More than a rescue team For the women themselves, the initiative is about something the training manual doesn’t cover. “Even today, people see us as sex workers or beggars,” said Mayuri Alvekar, founder of Maitri NGO, who brought the other volunteers on board. “I believe that such opportunities of working with the administration would help promote inclusivity and give us space in mainstream society, while changing the perspective towards us. We have been helping people during disasters or rescue needs but faced discrimination. However, now we are getting recognition and, most importantly, an identity.” “To take the initiative further, I have also created a similar volunteer team in Dhule and Parbhani,” Alvekar added. Suhasini Devmane, another team member and Maharashtra’s first transgender tourist guide, spent eight years as an ayurvedic panchakarma expert while hiding who she was. “Despite a desire to contribute to society, many of us had previously been unable to participate in social initiatives due to a lack of opportunities,” she said. “For over eight years, I had to hide my identity – else I would have lost my job, and my financial situation didn’t allow for that risk then. I believe this training will not only change society’s perspective towards transgender people but also boost the self-confidence of individuals within the community.” Shivani Gajabar, who is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work degree at Shivaji University, Kolhapur, says the acceptance hasn’t fully arrived yet. “Even today, transgender community members feel alienated from mainstream society,” she said. “Though giving us a platform in the disaster management rescue team is a welcome step and would help bring inclusivity – and we all would give our best while saving lives – I feel there is a long way ahead to fill the gap. Even when I go regularly to attend classes, no one sits on my bench. I’m all alone.” Her family cut off contact when she left home in Class 7. “They used to think I could not do any considerable work,” she said. “However, now, being part of the disaster management rescue team, my family members have started communicating with me again.” What next The administration isn’t stopping at floods and drowning rescues. “There are around 30 categories of man-made and natural disasters, including wildlife rescues involving snakes and crocodiles in Kolhapur, and the transwomen volunteers will gradually be trained for these as well,” Sankpal said. One gap the authorities want to close: money. The volunteers currently work for free. “We are also planning to deploy them for crowd management during upcoming festivals such as Navaratri, Anant Chaturdashi, and the Jyotiba Yatra among others. Also, efforts are underway to grant home guard status to the transwomen volunteers, which would come with an honorarium,” Sankpal told The Indian Express. Written by: Shubham Kurale Courtesy : TIR Note: This news is originally published on https:/theindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Teen Was Humiliated In Maharashtra’s Beed, Viral Video Sparked Public Outrage: Here’s What Happened
A minor Dalit boy was allegedly assaulted and humiliated in Maharashtra’s Beed district. After an FIR was registered, attention is now on the action police may take against those accused. A case involving the alleged assault and humiliation of a minor Dalit boy in Savargaon, Majalgaon taluka, has triggered concern in Maharashtra’s Beed district. The victim has been identified as Siddhant Avghade. According to the complaint, the minor was allegedly beaten and subjected to humiliating treatment. The incident reportedly came to wider attention after a video related to the case surfaced on social media. An FIR has been registered at Majalgaon Rural Police Station today, September 13, 2026. The case was registered under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). What Legal Action Could The Accused Face? There are stringent laws regarding offences related to caste abuse, assault, and humiliation in the SC/ST Act. Based on the nature of the accusation and the law invoked, a guilty party may receive jail terms and fines. Arrest might be inevitable in some cases depending on the fulfilment of the requisite legal conditions. Nevertheless, the ultimate punishment shall be determined by the court based on the evidence and charge presented. It is possible that every case under the SC/ST Act may result in automatic arrest without the possibility of anticipatory bail, but this is dependent on the type of offence committed. Police Under Pressure To Act Quickly The case has gained attention after the alleged incident was discussed widely on social media. Social organisations have also reportedly demanded immediate action and the arrest of those accused. With the victim being a minor, authorities are expected to treat the matter with particular sensitivity. The investigation will determine what happened and establish the roles of those named in the case. If charges are established, the accused could face proceedings under the relevant criminal and SC/ST Act provisions. The victim and his family may also be entitled to protection and legal assistance under applicable rules. The case is now likely to remain under close public and administrative scrutiny as the investigation progresses. Published By: Sudeep Singh Rawat Courtesy : NewsX Note: This news is originally published on https:/newsx.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bombay high court refuses to junk defamation case, says Rahul Gandhi’s remarks against PM Modi must be decided at trial
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Tuesday dismissed a petition by Congress politician Rahul Gandhi that challenged summons issued to him by a magistrate on a defamation complaint over his alleged 2018 statements against PM Narendra Modi related to the Rafale fighter aircraft deal.“In absence of any manifest illegality, perversity in the impugned order, it is not a fit case for interference in exercise of inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Considering overall facts and circumstances, this court finds no infirmity in the impugned order,’’ said Justice Nitin Borkar. The criminal defamation complaint was filed by BJP functionary Mahesh Shrishrimal before a Girgaon magistrate stating that Gandhi’s statements were made in a rally in Rajasthan and had hurt the sentiments of all BJP members. The magistrate issued summons against Gandhi in August 2019. Gandhi received the summons in July 2021 and then moved the high court seeking quashing of the proceedings. On December 16, 2021, the high court, in an interim order, had deferred the proceedings before the magistrate. Shrishrimal’s advocate Rohan Mahadik opposed Gandhi’s petition insisting that the statements targeted all BJP members. Senior advocate Sudeep Pasbola, for Gandhi, argued that the complaint was frivolous, non-maintainable, and intended to harass adversaries. He said only an aggrieved person could file it. Advocate General Milind Sathe countered that an individual BJP member also qualifies as an aggrieved person with locus standi and legal right to file the complaint. He urged that the complaint should not be quashed at the preliminary stage. In the order, Justice Borkar said: “On prima facie reading of the defamatory statement, inter alia, describes the Prime Minister, who is also the prominent face of the said political party, as having engaged in the acts of theft while being the Commander of Thieves.” Justice Borkar said: “Therefore, at this threshold, it cannot be said that the alleged defamatory imputation is incapable of extending to those clearly identified with the party and its leadership, including its office-bearers.” Whether the imputations were confined to the PM alone, or whether and to what extent they cast the shadow upon BJP members and functionaries “is a matter requiring an appreciation of evidence and context…a determination that must await trial rather than be conclusively answered by this court… “, said the high court. After the order, Gandhi’s advocate requested a stay on the order for eight weeks to approach the Supreme Court. After Mahadik opposed it, Justice Borkar stayed the order for six weeks. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
MPSC aspirants to protest in Pune on Monday; support pours in from CJP, Rahul Gandhi, Aaditya Thackeray
Pune: A day before a protest march announced by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants against alleged irregularities in the recruitment process, demanding either resignation or removal of the commission’s chairperson, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) as well as opposition leaders like LOP Rahul Gandhi of Congress and MLA Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) extended their support to the agitation. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said thousands of students across Maharashtra were protesting peacefully, with their concerns extending beyond a particular examination or recruitment process to a broader loss of faith in the system. “Whether at Centre or in the state, every student is fed up with BJP govt. Paper leaks, stalled recruitments, unaffordable education, inhumane hostel conditions, poisonous food and fraud in DBT. And now, by taking control of a constitutional body like MPSC, it has destroyed the institution’s credibility,” he said. The Congress leader said that every demand from students for their successful future is justified. He said govt must listen to their voice and act immediately, else this echo of students will only grow louder until justice is served. The scheduled protest of MPSC students that will start from Omkareshwar Temple and culminate at the Pune district collector’s office also received backing from CJP chief Abhijit Dipke, who announced that CJP supports the demands. Some office-bearers of CJP also met agitating students to declare that they too will take part in the march. Thackeray, who was in Pune on Sunday to participate in the protest march by Hinjewadi residents and IT professionals for better infrastructure, also met MPSC aspirants later in the day and announced his party’s support for them. “We stand with MPSC students. The local Shiv Sena (UBT) and Yuva Sena will participate in Monday’s march,” he said. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar met MPSC aspirants on Saturday and addressed a press-conference alongside them to announce the proposed protest march. Pawar has also been raising concerns over the FDA inspector recruitment examination, which came under scrutiny following allegations of a question paper leak. Police have arrested several people in connection with the case and the exam was cancelled in Aug after leak was confirmed. The developments come after state govt formed a committee on Sept 4 to review the existing recruitment examination system and recommend measures to make it more transparent and reliable. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Vikram Pachpute, who met MPSC aspirants in Pune on Sunday, said efforts were being made to resolve the issue through dialogue and to persuade the protesting students. He said the agitation should not be exploited for political gains. On the demand for the removal of MPSC chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar, Pachpute said the commission is an autonomous body and its chairperson is appointed by the governor. “Govt does not even have the authority to demand his resignation,” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Trust shattered’: Rahul backs students protesting against MPSC paper leak in Maharashtra
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday backed students protesting against alleged irregularities in Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations, saying that “every student is tormented by the BJP regime”. In a post on X, Rahul said thousands of students were protesting in Maharashtra because their trust in the system had been “shattered”. “In Maharashtra, thousands of students are on the streets, protesting peacefully – the reason isn’t just one exam or recruitment, but a trust that’s been shattered by the entire system,” Rahul said. “Whether it’s the central or state government, every student is tormented by the BJP regime. Paper leaks, stalled recruitments, the unbearable cost of education, inhumane conditions in hostels, food like poison, fraud in DBT and now, they’ve seized control of a constitutional body like MPSC and destroyed its credibility,” he added. The Congress leader urged the government to listen to the students and act immediately, warning that their protests would grow louder until justice was served. “Every demand from students for their successful future is justified. The government must listen to their voice and act immediately – otherwise, this echo of the students will only grow louder until justice is served,” Rahul said. Rahul’s remarks came amid an ongoing Mumbai Police probe into the alleged leak of the question paper for the MPSC Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Inspector examination. MPSC conducted the offline examination for Drug Inspector posts on March 22. Candidates had subsequently raised concerns over a possible paper leak, but alleged that their complaints were not acted upon. The recruitment process was later completed, with a merit list of 488 candidates published. MPSC has since cancelled the recruitment process for Drug Inspector Group-B posts under the Food and Drug Administration Department following a preliminary inquiry into alleged malpractice in the screening examination. A police inquiry prima facie indicated that one candidate had received the question paper before the examination and benefited from it, the commission said. It added that it considered the seriousness of the findings before deciding to cancel the recruitment process. Police have also arrested six people, including three MPSC officials, in connection with the alleged question paper leak in the 2026 Drug Inspector Group-B screening examination, which has now been cancelled. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights