MHT-CET Admission Allegations: CET Cell Says Task Force Examining Recordings, SIT Already Probing Score Manipulation

The Maharashtra CET Cell has said a task force is examining recordings and claims linked to a purported sting operation concerning MHT-CET scores and engineering admissions. Commissioner Dilip Sardesai confirmed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is already investigating alleged score manipulation, and that the CET Cell is cooperating by submitting documentary evidence. The CET Cell has asked those making the allegations to submit their recordings; as of November 4, 2026, no videos had been submitted to the department.

The allegations were raised by NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar at a press conference in Mumbai on November 3, 2026. The CET Cell's response addresses the investigation of these claims. It does not announce any change to candidates' counselling schedules or admission rules .

What the CET Cell Said

Commissioner Dilip Sardesai outlined the department's position:

Task force constituted: A dedicated task force has been formed to examine the sting operation videos and associated claims.

Evidence requested: Those making the allegations have been asked to approach the CET Cell and submit all available evidence. Sardesai stated: "If anyone submits the videos to us, we will examine their veracity and immediately initiate action as per the law. However, they have not submitted any videos to us so far."

SIT already active: Regarding alleged score manipulation, Sardesai confirmed: "An SIT has already been constituted, and we are cooperating with the investigation by submitting all the documentary evidence sought by it" .

Tender allegations addressed separately: Sardesai said documentary evidence and a detailed written response regarding tender-related allegations were submitted to MLA Rohit Pawar in September 2026 and also shared with the government .

The Allegations: What Rohit Pawar Claimed

At the November 3 press conference, Pawar made several allegations based on recordings provided by teachers who claimed to have conducted a sting operation:

₹25 lakh demand: Agents allegedly demanded up to ₹25 lakh to secure admission to leading engineering colleges by manipulating MHT-CET scores and examination centres .

99th percentile promise: Candidates were allegedly promised scores above the 99th percentile through manipulation .

Data leak claim: Pawar flagged a data breach involving approximately 4.59 lakh candidates .

Tender allegations: He alleged corruption worth ₹2,300 crore involving a private company that secured CET contracts .

Demands: A judicial inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, preferably headed by a former Supreme Court judge; resignation of Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil; and offline OMR-based examinations going forward .

These are allegations. They are not established findings of wrongdoing.

Status of Evidence: Recordings Not Yet Submitted

The critical procedural point is that the recordings and evidence referenced by Pawar have not been submitted to the CET Cell as of November 4, 2026. Sardesai's statement is explicit on this: "they have not submitted any videos to us so far" .

Without the actual evidence, the task force cannot begin verification. The CET Cell's position is that it will examine authenticity and initiate legal action if wrongdoing is established—not before.

What This Means for Candidates

Counselling schedule unchanged: The CET Cell's response does not announce any modification to MHT-CET 2026 counselling dates, seat allotment processes, or admission rules.

Allegations remain unverified: No finding of manipulation has been established. Candidates should treat the claims as allegations under investigation.

Existing SIT separate from sting claims: The SIT was constituted to investigate alleged score manipulation; the task force is a separate mechanism for examining the sting recordings.

Watch for official updates: Any change to counselling or admission rules would be announced on the official CET Cell portal (mahacet.org). Candidates should rely on official communications for schedule changes.