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At least 39 examination staff suspended in mass-copy cases in Maharashtra HSC exams

MSBSHSE Interim Chairperson Nandkumar Bedse said the suspended officials include teachers of private-aided schools and Zila Parishad employees.

2 min readPuneUpdated: Feb 19, 2026 09:27 PM IST

MSBSHSE initiated an inquiry after receiving information that the February 2026 HSC paper leak case had links to Umred. (Express Photo)

39 examination staff have been suspended in three mass-copy cases in Maharashtra Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board exams as of February 19. These cases were recorded in the districts of Beed, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Jalna. A fourth mass-copy case was recorded in Washim on February 16, and an FIR was filed against 27 people in the same.

The first three cases were recorded on the first day of the exam during the English language examination. At the Arts and Science Junior College in Chausala, Beed, an FIR was registered against 17 people after it was observed that students in the classroom were involved in mass copying and that the supervisor and center director were directly or indirectly helping them. 12 of 17 examination staff involved have been suspended as of February 19.

Similarly, at the Rashtriya Higher Secondary School in Jaitapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, an FIR was registered against 24 people as students in the classroom also were found copying with the help of the centre director and exam supervisor. 21 of the 24 examination staff involved have been suspended as of February 19.

The third mass copy-case was observed for malpractices at three schools in Jalna: Jambuvant Higher Secondary School in Rohilagad, Prabodankar Thackeray Higher Secondary School in Shahgad, and Chhatrapati Shivajinagar Higher Secondary School, in Ankushnagar. All 6 examination staff involved have been suspended as of February 19.

Also Read | Maharashtra HSC Exams 2026: More than 15 lakh students to appear for Class 12th exams

The fourth case was observed in Washim district at Shri Mainagiri Maharaj School and Junior College during the physics exam on February 16. A flying squad led by Sanjay Sasane, Regional Education Officer, found mass-copying at the centre and that the staff were seen helping students. An FIR was filed against 27 people at this centre.

Nandkumar Bedse, interim chairperson of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), said, “The suspended officials include teachers of private-aided schools and Zila Parishad government employees. We will have zero tolerance for any kind of malpractices and strict action will be taken. Concerned aided and self-financed school administrators to suspend the concerned teachers,” said Bedse.

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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