Nagpur police registered a case at Sadar Police Station after invigilators at a local high school spotted a female student making repeated trips to the washroom during the Maharashtra State Board Class 12 Chemistry exam on February 18. Suspicion led to a search that uncovered her using a mobile phone. Officials said the device contained evidence of the question paper circulating in a WhatsApp group before the test started, complete with exchanged answers.

The student now faces questioning, along with another pupil whose involvement surfaced from her statement. Preliminary findings point to a person connected to a private coaching institute who allegedly sold the paper for cash, according to police sources. Investigators continue to trace the chain of distribution, which reportedly spread via social media in Nagpur.

More than 1.3 million students sat for the Maharashtra Class 12 exams, which kicked off on February 10 and run through March 11 across 3,387 centers statewide. The Chemistry paper incident marks a fresh blow to efforts to secure board examinations amid recurring cheating scandals.

In a related development from Madhya Pradesh, authorities suspended a teacher for posting a Class 10 English question paper on her WhatsApp status. The district administration stressed the exam had begun by 9:06 a.m. when she shared the photo—at least 109 students had already entered the center before 8:40 a.m. Officials ruled out a leak but cited the breach of exam confidentiality as grounds for suspension and disciplinary action.

Maharashtra education officials have not commented publicly on the Nagpur probe’s potential impact, such as re-conducting the Chemistry exam. Police expect to question additional suspects soon, including coaching institute staff. The case highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in India’s high-stakes board exams, where leaks have prompted nationwide reforms in recent years.

Students and parents in Nagpur expressed outrage on social media after news of the alleged leak broke. One parent told reporters outside the exam center that such incidents undermine years of hard work. Board officials previously warned of strict penalties, including disqualification and criminal charges, for malpractice.

The investigation builds on past efforts to curb paper leaks through digital monitoring and sealed question paper transport. In Maharashtra alone, similar probes have led to arrests in previous cycles. Sadar Police Station confirmed the FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating and criminal conspiracy.