Pune: Board–Police Probe Finds No SSC Paper Leak; Telegram Group Accused of Cheating Students

Pune, 12th March 2026: An investigation by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has found that rumours of a leak of the Class 10 Science and Mathematics examination papers were baseless, and that a Telegram group was instead attempting to scam students by selling fake access to question papers.

Board Secretary Deepak Mali said the board examined the claims after complaints were received about messages circulating online offering SSC question papers in exchange for money.

According to the board, the messages began circulating on March 9 when a Telegram group claimed at around 5:47 pm that the Science Part 1 and Part 2 papers were available. Following the complaints, the Pune Divisional Board filed a case at the Shivajinagar Police Station.

To test the authenticity of the claim, board officials, working with the police, carried out a sting operation on March 10. During the exercise, investigators contacted the administrator of the Telegram group and asked for the Science Part 1 paper scheduled for the next day’s examination. The administrator demanded ₹600 for the paper, which officials paid as part of the operation.

Despite receiving the payment, the group did not provide the Science question paper before the examination held on March 11. Authorities later observed that the Mathematics Part 2 question paper appeared in the Telegram group only after the official exam time had already ended.

Mali said the inquiry showed that the individuals behind the group were trying to mislead students by promising leaked question papers and collecting small payments through online transfers. Students were reportedly approached through direct messages and encouraged to pay money, but no papers were shared prior to the examinations.

Reiterating the board’s position, Mali said there is no evidence of any question paper being leaked before the scheduled exams. He added that the board has not received any verified complaint confirming such a breach.

Police are now investigating the matter to trace the people operating the Telegram group and determine the extent of the fraud.