Pune JE Exam Scandal: 3 Candidates Allegedly Used Camera-Equipped Glasses to Cheat
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 28th August 2026: A suspected “high-tech” cheating method has come to light in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Junior Engineer recruitment examination, with three candidates allegedly using camera-equipped spectacles to capture questions and seek answers outside the examination hall.
The Shivajinagar Police have registered a case against the three candidates — Gajanan Pache, Shivshankar Shelgave and Vishnukant Waghmare — along with Yogesh Rathod and Vikas Gaikwad, who are accused of allegedly assisting them.
The development has cleared a major hurdle in the recruitment process for 169 Junior Engineer (Civil) posts, allowing the PMC to proceed with appointments of eligible candidates. So far, 146 candidates have been issued appointment letters, and the process of inducting them into service has begun.
Suspicious pattern detected in digital records
The alleged malpractice came to light during a technical examination of the online logs of candidates who appeared for the recruitment examination.
The recruitment examination for 169 Junior Engineer (Civil) posts had been postponed twice before being conducted online in seven sessions across Maharashtra in April. Of around 42,000 registered candidates, 20,735 appeared for the examination.
The results were declared on June 9 and June 15, following which 545 candidates were called for document verification.
During this period, images purportedly showing the question paper were circulated in some Telegram groups and on social media platform X, triggering allegations that the examination paper had been leaked.
The PMC subsequently directed the examination agency to conduct a detailed technical investigation.
Three candidates showed unusual answering pattern
As part of the investigation, the online logs of all 20,735 candidates were examined.
Officials found the answering pattern of three candidates who appeared at Icon Digital Zone, Chikalthana, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, to be particularly unusual.
According to the findings, the three candidates spent much of the first 30 minutes primarily reading questions. They subsequently left for the washroom.
After returning, however, their answering speed reportedly increased sharply. During the final 30 minutes of the examination, the three candidates collectively attempted around 100 questions, with more than 90 answers reportedly being correct.
The investigation also found that the candidates allegedly did not use the rough sheets provided to work out even difficult questions. Their movements and examination activity were examined through CCTV footage and digital records, officials said.
Camera-equipped spectacles under scanner
Investigators suspect that the candidates may have used a camera-equipped device fitted into spectacles to photograph questions and transmit the information outside the examination hall.
The suspected method involved allegedly capturing images of questions, sending them outside and then obtaining answers during a washroom break before returning to the examination hall and entering the answers.
Police will now investigate how the alleged technology was used, where the questions were transmitted, who may have provided assistance and whether other people were involved.
545 candidates also scrutinised
The PMC also examined the personal records of the 545 candidates called for document verification.
According to PMC Additional Commissioner Prajit Nair, no suspicious activity was found in the records of the other candidates.
“The Junior Engineer examination paper was not leaked. If the paper had been leaked, the log sheets would have shown several candidates answering questions rapidly from the beginning of the examination. However, after examining the log sheets of all candidates, three candidates were found to be suspicious. Legal action has been initiated against them,” Nair said.
Based on the findings, the civic administration decided against cancelling the entire examination and proceeded with action against the three suspected candidates, clearing the way for appointments of eligible candidates.
Police probe to establish wider network
While the PMC’s technical examination did not establish that the question paper had been leaked, police are investigating whether the three candidates used electronic or other technological devices to cheat during the examination.
The investigation is expected to establish how the questions allegedly reached people outside the examination centre, whether money changed hands and who supplied or facilitated access to the suspected equipment.
Police will also examine whether the candidates knew that mobile connectivity could potentially be accessed from the examination centre’s washroom area and whether any examination-centre personnel or other individuals assisted them.
Investigators are also expected to determine whether more candidates or members of an organised network were involved.
The police investigation is underway.
