Pune: Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) member Satish Baban Waghole has been given the additional charge of chairman after Vivek Bhimanwar was sent on compulsory leave pending an inquiry into alleged exam irregularities.Meanwhile, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Friday welcomed the judicial inquiry into suspected paper leaks but demanded a wider clean-up of the commission, including scrutiny of its members and evidence-based action against those responsible.The developments follow an 11-day protest by MPSC aspirants in Pune demanding Bhimanwar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Drug Inspector recruitment exam. The students withdrew their agitation after govt assured them of an inquiry and Bhimanwar announced that he would stay away from the post until investigation was completed.Waghole joined the commission as a member last month when Bhimanwar administered his oath on Sept 7. He has now been entrusted with the additional responsibility of heading the commission during Bhimanwar’s absence, under an order issued on behalf of Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.In a post on ‘X’ on Friday, Pawar welcomed the formal constitution of the judicial commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, and called for accountability extending from officials at the lower levels to the commission’s leadership. “Finally, a judicial commission has been established under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, to investigate paper leaks in various MPSC examinations and ensure a complete clean-up of the commission, from peons to the chairman,” Pawar said.The state govt’s Oct 16 notification specified nine exams to be investigated for alleged malpractice or leakage of question papers, answer keys or parts thereof. These include the Drug Inspector Group-B Examination, 2025; Group-B combined preliminary and main examinations; Group-C combined preliminary and main examinations; Maharashtra Agriculture Services Main Examination, 2024; Food and Drugs Administrative Services Main Examination, 2023; and Maharashtra Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering Services Main Examinations, 2025.The commission has been tasked with establishing the facts surrounding the alleged irregularities, fixing responsibility and examining lapses by officers, officials and other stakeholders directly or indirectly involved. It will also examine whether misconduct or misbehaviour by present or former MPSC members, including the chairman, has been established, warranting action for their removal under Article 317 of the Constitution.Pawar also raised concerns about MPSC member Abhay Wagh and urged govt to examine his role. He said he would meet the judicial commission next week to submit evidence relating to the Group-B exams. “We need to submit all possible evidence. Students should submit their evidence to student representatives or to us. We will ensure that no guilty person escapes scrutiny,” he said. The notified list has also prompted questions from aspirants about exams not explicitly included in the inquiry. Some have sought the inclusion of the State Services Main Examination, 2025, the Forest Services Examination, 2025, and direct recruitment exams.
