Mumbai, June 27: The Maharashtra State Council of Examinations (MSCE) on Saturday abruptly cancelled the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026, which was scheduled to be held on Sunday. The decision comes after a joint raid by the Bhiwandi Police exposed a major question paper leak just a day before the statewide examination.

The exam was set to take place across 1,028 centres in Maharashtra. Council officials stated that the postponement was necessary to maintain absolute transparency and fairness for all candidates. The postponement of TET has thrown the future of over 428,122 candidates in limbo and sparked widespread outrage across the state.

According to an official release, Intelligence agencies received confidential information in the early hours of Saturday indicating that a group of individuals in Bhiwandi (Thane district) had unauthorised access to the TET question papers.

Acting swiftly on the tip-off, a team from the Bhiwandi Police Department raided the location. During the operation, law enforcement personnel detained several suspects and seized incriminating materials.

Senior officials from the MSCE were immediately summoned to the spot by the police to verify the seized documents.

Upon a detailed cross-examination, officials discovered a definitive match as the questions found in the possession of the detained individuals were identical to the questions drafted for the actual June 2026 Teacher Eligibility Test.

Following the confirmation of the breach, an official First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Bhiwandi Police Station against the accused individuals. Taking a serious note of the security lapse, the MSCE decided to call off Sunday’s exam to ensure a thorough, comprehensive probe.

The Education Department and Thane Police have launched a high-level joint investigation to trace the mastermind behind the leak, map out how the security protocol was breached, and determine if any internal Board officials were involved.

The MSCE has assured candidates that a fresh date for the Maharashtra TET 2026 will be finalised soon. All updates regarding the rescheduled examination dates and revised guidelines will be published directly on the official website of the Maharashtra State Council of Examinations.

An extensive investigation is currently underway to identify the mastermind behind the leak and determine if any internal network or printing press was compromised, said the MSCE release.

The MAHA TET is a mandatory benchmark for candidates aspiring to teach in primary (Classes 1–5) and upper primary (Classes 6–8) schools across Maharashtra.

A total of 4,28,122 candidates had registered to take the exam in two separate sessions across the state. Many applicants had already travelled long distances to reach their designated exam centres, only to be met with the news of the sudden cancellation.

The cancellation has led to massive frustration among aspirants, drawing sharp parallels to recent nationwide controversies surrounding the NEET and UGC-NET paper leaks.

Candidates are demanding stricter implementation of anti-paper leak laws and immediate accountability from the education department.

Mumbai: Police have taken into custody a suspect who distributed pills to mourners on Ashura Day. What was the matter of distributing pills during the Muharram procession and the substance that was mixed in the medicine is also being investigated. The police have registered a case of poisoning and supply of medicines and further investigation is also underway in this matter. In the initial investigation, the suspect has claimed that he had given the pill for strength. The use of this pill or medicine reduces pain and provides relief. When the shell of this pill was opened, powder was put in it and its shell was also very hard and its texture was also strange. Therefore, suspicion arose about the distribution of this pill and the person was taken into custody. The incident has created a sensation and an inquiry has also been demanded. During yesterday’s procession, the Byculla police caught a suspicious person distributing pills. The person claimed that the pills were to reduce pain. However, one person who used them reportedly developed adverse symptoms of vomiting and discomfort.

Prompt police action prevented further distribution of the pills. The person is out of danger. Based on his complaint, a case has been registered at Byculla PS under Section 123 of the Bharatiya Naya Sanhita, 2023. Investigation is on.

Mumbai, June 27: The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Saturday accused the ruling political leadership and Hindutva outfit ‘Sakal Hindu Samaj’ of maintaining a hypocritical silence over the alleged theft and financial irregularities at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir and the NEET paper leak scandal.

It has questioned why organisations that frequently take to the streets over issues like ‘Love Jihad,’ religious conversions, and cow slaughter have remained completely passive when major irregularities involve individuals within their own ideological fold.

The Thackeray camp in the scathing editorial of party mouthpiece Saamana claimed that The Sakal Hindu Samaj is sleeping like Kumbhakarna.” It taunted, “while a restless Lord Ram and his family have, once again, departed for exile.”

The editorial highlighted recent revelations concerning the “loot” of donations, collection boxes, and silver items at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. It pointed out that while a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed and cases were registered against eight individuals, the main suspects, including Champat Rai and other trustees, were allegedly shielded by the government.

“In Ayodhya, individuals linked to the temple and the BJP bought lands at throwaway prices and later sold them back to the Ram Mandir Trust at inflated rates. AAP MP Sanjay Singh provided evidence to the SIT, but it wasn’t investigated. Now, minor figures like Tinnu Yadav and Anukalp Mishra have been arrested by the UP government,” said the editorial.

Taking a sarcastic swipe at the political ecosystem, the editorial suggested that the ‘Sakal Hindu Samaj’ and top BJP leaders only raise a “loud voice for Hindutva” if a Muslim name is involved.

“Should someone spread a rumour that Tinnu and Mishra are actually Muslims operating under fake Hindu names just to wake up the Sakal Hindu Samaj?” the editorial asked sharply, adding that because the accused are Hindu, these organisations have “closed their eyes and mouths.”

The Thackeray camp expanded its criticism beyond Ayodhya, linking the silence of these pro-Hindutva groups to the massive NEET-UG examination paper leak scandal.

The editorial said that Maharashtra emerged as a major hub for the paper leak, with eight to ten individuals and a coaching class owner arrested. It underscored that these accused individuals possess strong Hindutva and BJP connections, saying that the scam has devastated the lives of thousands of Hindu children, driving some to suicide, yet the ‘Sakal Hindu Samaj’ has failed to hit the streets to protect the interests of these youths.

The editorial further highlighted instances of political compromise and corruption that went unprotested. It claimed that BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari stated that cows older than 14 years could be slaughtered, yet no Hindutva outfits organised protest marches in West Bengal against this stance. It alleged financial mismanagement and “loot” at the holy Mahakal Temple in Ujjain under the BJP-led state government, noting that leaders have remained quiet.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena argued that the Ram Mandir awakened Hindutva and served as the political launchpad for the current leadership, yet the deity’s own temple is now being plundered.