BHIWANDI: The Thane police probing the alleged Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak case achieved a major breakthrough on Saturday by arresting the alleged mastermind, Bijendra Gupta, after a three-week manhunt. Gupta was apprehended in Bihar along with his associate, Indrajit Singh, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 14.Bijendra is said to be involved in many papers leaks across several states in the country and was arrested earlier but was on bail during which he leaked again TET paper.A police team tracked down the duo during an early morning operation in Bihar and is bringing them to Mumbai. Both accused are expected to be produced before a Bhiwandi court later in the day to seek their custodial interrogation.Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Pawan Bansod confirmed the arrests to TOI. “Our team had been relentlessly searching for Bijendra Gupta for the past three weeks. We succeeded in arresting him this morning. Along with him, one of his associates, Indrajit Singh, has also been arrested. Both accused are being brought to Mumbai and will be produced before the Bhiwandi court,” Bansod said.The case came to light after DCP Bansod received a tip-off a day before the June 28 TET examination that a group was arriving in Bhiwandi to sell leaked question papers. Acting on the information, Kongaon police station team laid a trap and arrested three persons allegedly attempting to sell the leaked papers. The subsequent investigation uncovered a well-organised racket involved in leaking examination papers and facilitating unfair means for candidates.The probe has so far revealed a network allegedly operating across multiple states. During the investigation, police arrested several key accused, including two employees of an Agra-based printing press from where Gupta is suspected to have procured the leaked question papers.Among those arrested earlier is Gupta’s wife, Suman Gupta, who was traced to Samastipur in Bihar. Investigators believe she played an active role in the financial transactions and logistical support of the alleged racket. Police have also seized multiple electronic devices, documents and financial records during the investigation.Investigators further revealed that Gupta had allegedly finalised a deal through arrested accused Kapil Dahiya to sell the leaked question papers to a Pune resident, who remains absconding and is the only accused yet to be arrested in the case. Police claim the Pune-based suspect was in contact with nearly 50 teacher aspirants who were willing to purchase the leaked question papers before the examination.Officials said Gupta’s arrest is expected to provide crucial leads on the exact source of the leaked papers, the money trail and the possible involvement of additional members of the syndicate.
