MUMBAI: Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) chairman Vivek Bhimanwar announced early Monday that he was going on leave until the judicial inquiry into alleged paper leaks and the commission’s functioning is completed.The state government has set up a high-level, five-member inquiry committee headed by former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court Dilip Bhosale to probe allegations of paper leaks and recommend an overhaul of the MPSC’s functioning.IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe has been appointed secretary of the committee. Soon after Bhimanwar announced his decision to go on leave, MPSC aspirants ended their 10-day agitation in Pune early Monday.“MPSC students’ satyagraha finally victorious. Victory of unity, determination.. and perseverance,” NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who was leading the protests, said in a post on X.“The state government has announced a judicial inquiry into the MPSC paper leak case. Throughout my entire life, I have always prioritized ethics. Therefore, I have decided to go on leave during this period instead of continuing to serve in the post until this inquiry is completed. The autonomy, credibility, and interests of students of the MPSC have always been my priority, and they will continue to be so in the future,” Bhimanwar said in a post on X.Hundreds of students had been protesting against alleged paper leaks in the MPSC and demanding reforms in Pune. The agitation was led and supported by NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar and Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam.The protesters’ main demands included action and accountability over the Drug Inspector examination paper-leak controversy, the removal or resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, administrative reforms and a preference for offline examinations.Bhimanwar was appointed MPSC chairman in December 2025, sworn in in February 2026 and assumed charge in March. A 2009-batch IAS officer, he previously served as transport commissioner and private secretary to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.Earlier this month, the state government terminated the deputation of MPSC secretary Mahendra Harpalkar amid allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities in examinations conducted by the commission.Harpalkar had been appointed to the MPSC post on a two-year deputation in December 2025. An October 1 order issued by the state General Administration Department (GAD) said his appointment had been terminated for administrative reasons and that a separate order regarding his next posting would be issued.The order also directed Harpalkar to immediately hand over charge as MPSC secretary to another officer, with the commission’s consent.
