A striking development has emerged on Tuesday in the alleged Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026 paper leak, as the remand documents and banking records accessed by sources reveal that an intricate financial network was behind the exam fraud. The investigating police personnel believe that the accused employed multiple bank accounts and layered financial transactions in a bid to obscure the movement of the monetary proceeds allegedly linked to the paper leak operation.

Latest findings have propelled the ongoing probe into the case which impacted close to 6 lakh candidates preparing to take the exam. Authorities are now examining whether the financial network unearthed during the investigation extends beyond the present case and has links to other exam-related irregularities.

Paper leak racket was operating for 3 years

According to police sources familiar with the investigation, the racket behind the TET 2026 paper leak was allegedly operating for the past three years. The documents indicate that payments were allegedly made to people believed to be associated with the operation during the period. 

The aforementioned revelations have broadened the scope of the probe, as officials are now exploring whether the same network may have been involved in other exam paper leak cases reported across the state or elsewhere. 

The remand documents also mention that police seized several cheque books along with documents associated with multiple bank accounts registered in the name of the arrested accused. The cops are examining the seized booty to reconstruct the alleged financial chain and identify other potential beneficiaries or collaborators. 

Financial transactions being probed

The documents examined by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the case has also revealed that the funds received by the members of the racket were allegedly routed through several bank accounts spread across different branches. 

Officials suspect that the use of numerous bank accounts and staggered transfers was aimed at disguising both the source as well as the destination of the money, making the financial trail more difficult to detect. 

ID cards recovered during searches

In a parallel development, the remand papers accessed by sources reportedly state that cops recovered a press identity card issued by Amrutvarsha Media in the name of one of the accused, Rajiv Prayag Shaw. The cops also allegedly seized a Lok Janshakti Party ID card bearing Shaw’s name during the course of the search. 

Currently, the investigating agencies have not convicted the aforementioned organisations of orchestrating the paper leak conspiracy. However, both documents have been officially recorded in the remand papers as part of the material seized during the probe. 

The agencies are persevering in efforts to analyse financial transactions, examine seized documents and investigate possible links between the alleged racket and other exam-related irregularities. 

Authorities will likely pursue additional leads as they seek to unravel the full extent of the suspect network.