Pune: The streets of central Pune turned into the epicentre of state-wide youth unrest on Monday, September 7, 2026, as thousands of competitive examination aspirants marched in an aggressive 'Aakrosh Morcha' organized by the All Competitive Exams Students Action Committee. Starting from the historic Omkareshwar Temple Chowk in Shaniwar Peth and culminating at the Pune District Collectorate, students clad in black brought vehicular traffic across central arterial roads to a grinding halt. Demonstrators submitted a formal 12-point memorandum to district revenue officials, issuing a categorical 72-hour ultimatum to the Maharashtra government: initiate sweeping institutional cleanses and forensic audits within three days, or face an indefinite chakkajam sit-in turning Pune into the state's own 'Jantar Mantar'. For official notifications, candidate redressal windows, and commission circulars, visit the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Portal.

Ground Sequence: Omkareshwar to Collectorate

Carrying satirical and sharp placards reading 'MPSC Chairman Go Back', 'Youth Need Question Papers, Not Placards', and 'Stop Selling Our Hard Work', the sea of students was echoed by parallel demonstrations in Kolhapur, where aspirants marched from Dasara Chowk to the local collectorate:

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  • The 72-Hour Deadline: Student representatives, including Nitin Andhale and Rushikesh Gangurde, stated that if decisive measures are not announced within three days, aspirants will stage round-the-clock road blockades along Shastri Road and surround administrative offices.
  • Triggered by Drug Inspector Paper Leak: The agitation follows the unravelling of the MPSC Drug Inspector (Group-B) screening examination leak, where the Mumbai Police Crime Branch arrested seven accused—including MPSC Under Secretary Abhijit Ganpatrao Lendwe, Assistant Section Officers Vishweshwar Nakate and Gopal Marathe, and the candidate who secured seventh rank state-wide, Rutuja Patil.

Core Charter of Demands Submitted by Aspirants

The student delegation submitted a non-negotiable charter demanding institutional accountability and judicial intervention:

  • Leadership Resignation: Immediate removal and resignation of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar and the Commission Secretary, replacing them with senior civil servants of unblemished integrity.
  • Comprehensive Forensic Audit: A thorough, independent forensic and service audit of all recruitment examinations conducted during the tenure of arrested Under Secretary Abhijit Lendwe and his co-accused.
  • Scrutiny of CDR Records: Detailed Call Detail Record (CDR) and financial trail tracking of all candidates selected in close contact with the arrested officials and coaching institute intermediaries.
  • Descriptive Paper Re-evaluation: A judicial probe into marking discrepancies and evaluator errors reported in the 2025 State Services (Rajyaseva) Main Examination and Maharashtra Agriculture Services.
  • Public Transparency: Unconditional release of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch preliminary inquiry report into the public domain within eight days.
  • Group-C Exam Safeguards: Strict offline execution and end-to-end transparent oversight for the upcoming mega Group-C (Clerk-Typist) preliminary examination scheduled for October 25, 2026.

Political Confrontation and Government Reaction

Several opposition lawmakers joined the marching students outside the Pune Collectorate:

"If the ruling coalition wants to rehabilitate their political friends, accommodate them in your party offices, not inside a constitutional body like the MPSC. Bureaucrats entrenched in the same administrative posts since 2014 are looting honest aspirants. File police cases against politicians if you wish, but do not target these students."— Rohit Pawar, MLA, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar)

NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule and Congress legislator Dr. Vishwajeet Kadam backed the demand for an immediate SIT probe, drawing national attention alongside solidarity messages from Rahul Gandhi and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. In response, MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar defended his tenure, stating that the Drug Inspector leak transpired before he assumed office and appealing that discussions remain grounded in official facts rather than personal attacks. Reacting to the crisis, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that a high-level task force led by the Additional Chief Secretary is formulating stringent anti-paper-leak legislation with non-bailable clauses and property-attachment provisions for offenders.