THE Pune Police are investigating a viral phone call recording in which an aspirant is purportedly asked to pay Rs 40 lakh in exchange for an MPSC exam question paper, an official said on Thursday. The Maharashtra Public ServiceCommission(MPSC)has clarified that all the question paper sets are safe in their custody.TheGroupB(non-gazetted) joint examination 2024, conducted by the MPSC, is scheduled for Sunday. In the purported phone recording,apersonofferstoprovidethequestionpapertoa candidate a day before the exam in return for Rs 35-40 lakh. In a notification issued on Thursday, MPSC said it approached the police for an investigationafterlearningabout the viral audio clip.

 

“MPSC has approachedus andwe are probing the purported phone call recording,” said Deputy CommissionerofPolice (Crime) Nikhil Pingle. Addressingapressconference inNaviMumbai,MPSCSecretary Dr Suvara Kharat said all preparations are in place to conduct the Maharashtra Group-B(NonGazetted) Services Combined Preliminary Examination 2024 in a fair and transparent manner. “There should be no doubts regarding the integrity of the examination process. Aspirants must not believe in rumours of leaksetc.

 

Allquestionpapersare securely stored under stringent security protocols. It has come to our notice that some individuals are attempting to deceive candidatesbyfalselyclaiming to have access to the exam papers and demanding money in return,” Kharat said. “TheMPSChas lodgeda complaint with the Pune Police Commissioner. Candidates who receive phone calls or messages offering question papers in exchangeformoneyshouldlodge a complaint.”