Satish Waghole Takes Over as MPSC Chairman Amid Leak Inquiry
The Maharashtra government appoints Satish Waghole as the interim chairman of MPSC following the incumbent's leave amid a paper leak investigation.
Satish Waghole appointed as interim MPSC chairman amid inquiry.
Vivek Bhimanwar took leave due to allegations of examination paper leaks.
An inquiry committee led by retired Justice Dilip Bhosale has been formed.
On October 17, 2026, the Maharashtra government appointed Satish Waghole as the interim chairman of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). This decision follows the leave taken by the previous chairman, Vivek Bhimanwar, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged leaks of examination papers. The General Administration Department issued an official order confirming Waghole's new role, along with the appointment of Saurabh Katiyar as the MPSC secretary.
The vacancy in the chairman's position arose after Bhimanwar announced his leave coinciding with the formation of an inquiry committee. This committee, chaired by retired Justice Dilip Bhosale, has been tasked with investigating the alleged paper leaks and is expected to complete its work within two months. The formal notification for the committee will be issued pending approval from the Governor, after which the investigation will commence.
In addition to Waghole's appointment, Saurabh Katiyar, currently the District Collector of Mumbai Suburban, has been assigned the role of MPSC secretary. This change follows the transfer of former secretary Mahendra Harpalkar, which occurred amid protests from students regarding the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. The protests highlighted concerns over the integrity of the commission's examination processes.
The student protests, which lasted for 11 days in Pune, called for an independent investigation into the allegations of paper leaks and demanded greater transparency in the commission's operations. The agitation was particularly focused on the Drug Inspector examination held in March, with students also seeking accountability from the commission's leadership.
In response to the sustained protests, the Maharashtra government initiated the inquiry to address the concerns raised by examination aspirants. The findings of the inquiry committee are anticipated to influence future actions regarding the MPSC's operations and leadership. Bhimanwar, in his statement, emphasized his commitment to ethics and professionalism, stating that he chose to take leave during the inquiry process.
