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Maharashtra education board’s chief moderator for Latur division shares photos of model answer paper, booked

The accused is a school teacher in Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) district in Latur division.

The class 12 Higher Secondary Certificate exams began on February 11 and will continue till March 11. (Express Archive Photo/ Abhisek Saha)

An FIR was registered against Latur division’s chief moderator in Shivajinagar for the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), for sharing photos of model answer sheets during a meeting held on Thursday.

He was booked on Friday under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and The Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices Act, 1982, sections 6 and 7, and his phone was seized by the board.

The accused is a school teacher in Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) district in Latur division. Assistant police inspector Sanjay Pandhare told The Indian Express, “The biology paper took place on February 27. The question paper and model answer sheet is then checked by representatives of all divisions to ensure there are no mistakes. During the meeting, mobile phones are not allowed inside. But the divisional head of Latur sneaked in a mobile and clicked photos of the model answer paper and shared them with teachers in his division. Another member brought this to notice and an FIR was registered. We have begun the investigation and the mobile phone has been seized by the board.”

He added that the police would travel to Latur for the investigation and said, “Tomorrow is a Sunday so the school will be closed, we will have to investigate at the school in Latur as well. Whatever facts emerge during the investigation, we will take action accordingly.”

According to data shared by MSBSHSE, 33 incidents of malpractices were noted across the state on the day of the incident. The class 12 Higher Secondary Certificate exams began on February 11 and will continue till March 11. Over 16 lakh students from across the state are appearing for the exams.

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

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