The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has clarified that there is no prima facie evidence of a paper leak in the Secondary School Certificate (Class 10) February–March 2026 Mathematics examination, despite reports published in some newspapers.
The board said a Telegram group claiming to provide exam papers appears to be part of an attempt to financially cheat students.
On Wednesday evening, Dr Deepak Mali, secretary, MSBSHSE, Pune, issued a letter to media.
Amid reports of a possible leak of the Class 10 Mathematics examination paper, MSBSHSE has stated that preliminary verification has found no proof that the question paper was circulated before the examination began.
According to an official report issued by the board, a complaint was received on Monday through the state board’s complaint tab regarding a Telegram link where the examination paper was allegedly being circulated.
Following the complaint, officials visited the link and verified a Telegram group titled “Maharashtra State Board 2026 Paper”. The group claimed that the Mathematics Part-1 paper conducted on March 6 had been circulated a day earlier. However, the board said there is no confirmation that the paper was actually available before the exam, and the matter is currently being investigated by the police.
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During verification, officials also found that a message posted in the group on March 6 at 4.56 pm claimed that the Mathematics Part-2 paper scheduled for Monday, March 9, would be made available. The message asked users to send a direct message (DM) to obtain the paper.
Later, when the link was checked again on Monday at 5.47 pm, a suspected user in the group had posted a PDF link with a password claiming it contained the Mathematics Part-2 question paper. However, the board said the PDF became available only after the Mathematics Part-2 examination had already concluded on that day.
The same Telegram group also posted a message at 5.47 pm on Monday stating that “Science-1 and Science-2 papers are available.”
Based on the complaint, the Pune Divisional Board immediately filed a first information report (FIR) at Shivajinagar Police Station on the same day, initiating a formal investigation into the matter.
To verify the claims further, officials from the Pune Divisional Board and the police department contacted the group administrator on Tuesday and requested the Science-1 examination paper scheduled for Wednesday. The suspected administrator demanded Rs 600 for providing the paper, which was paid as part of the verification process.
However, until the Science-1 examination began on Wednesday morning, the group administrator did not provide the question paper, the report said.
Based on the findings so far, the board said there is no indication that the Mathematics Part-2 or Science-1 papers were available on the Telegram group before the examinations started. In fact, the Mathematics Part-2 paper was uploaded only after the exam ended on Monday, the report noted.
The board further stated that the Telegram group appears to have been created by unknown individuals to lure students with promises of providing SSC and HSC exam papers in exchange for money, indicating a possible case of online financial fraud.
Messages were posted in the group claiming that exam papers would be made available before the exams. However, instead of sharing papers publicly in PDF form, users were asked to send private messages and pay money to obtain them, suggesting that the primary intent was to cheat students.
The board also clarified that no complaint has been received so far stating that either the Mathematics Part-1 or Mathematics Part-2 question papers were circulated before the examinations began.
Therefore, the board said that reports published in some newspapers suggesting a paper leak do not appear to have factual basis at present, though the police investigation into the Telegram group is ongoing.