The Maharashtra State Board has clarified that there was no official leak of the HSC Chemistry question paper, even as police arrested two individuals in connection with the circulation of questions on WhatsApp ahead of the examination. Authorities confirmed that no re-examination will be held, officials told Times News Network (TNN).The issue surfaced on February 18 at St Ursula Girls High School in Nagpur, where invigilators grew suspicious after a student took an unusually long washroom break. Upon checking, officials recovered a smartphone from the student. According to police sources, a WhatsApp group on the device contained questions similar to those in the Chemistry paper scheduled later that day.During preliminary questioning, the student reportedly broke down, prompting authorities to proceed cautiously. A team from Sadar police station soon arrived at the centre and began a detailed inquiry.Investigators later found that the same WhatsApp group had also circulated questions resembling those from the Physics exam held on February 16. Messages containing the questions were allegedly sent around 10:35 am, about 25 minutes before the exam began at 11 am.Following a digital trail, police traced the source to a tuition teacher operating in the Mankapur area. Officials suspect that the material may have been accessed through a person with possible links to the board. Two individuals have since been arrested, and the teacher is under scrutiny.“A case has been registered, and technical analysis of the WhatsApp accounts is underway. We are examining whether the content was accessed and circulated for monetary benefits,” a senior police officer told TNN.Nagpur divisional board chairman Shivling Patve confirmed that the board has initiated an internal inquiry. However, he emphasised that the circulation of similar questions online did not compromise the integrity of the examination process, and therefore, students will not be required to appear for a re-test, officials said.Police are currently examining all members of the WhatsApp group, and investigators have not ruled out the possibility of wider links.Incidents of alleged paper leaks have surfaced in the past as well. In 2023, Buldhana police arrested a college principal and staff for opening and selling copies of the HSC Mathematics paper. Similar cases were reported in previous years, including early circulation of SSC and HSC papers in different parts of the state.Authorities have assured strict action if any organised malpractice is uncovered, while urging students and parents not to panic over rumours, officials added to TNN.
