Mumbai: Chairman of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) P D Vani, who was arrested on October 6 night in connection with the multi-crore answer paper scam, was on October 7 remanded to police custody till October 16.

Vani was produced by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) before a special court judge Mridula Bhatkar who remanded him to police custody till October 16, ACB Joint commissioner of Police A P Dhere said.

Dhere said Vani, the 17th accused in the case, was arrested on recovery of incriminating documents from his residence. Three others, including sub-inspector Sanjay Patil, were absconding.

Other arrested in the case were former MPSC chairman S D Karnik, Hukum Singh Raj Singh Bhati, Gopal Jain, Padmakar Jain, Vishvanath Kelkar (Deputy Municipal commissioner of Thane), Sunil Daspute, Avinash Sanas (P A to minister), Sunil Patil (Sub-inspector), Farruq Kadge (computer expert), Atmaram Karge (MPSC canteen waiter), Sudhakar Sarode (Controller of examination), Baban Kadam (police inspector), Mohd Kalim (agent), Pramod Kadam (SI), Manisha Nichat (agent) and Eknath Vazere (Mantralaya employee).

Police had filed chargesheet against 13 accused on September 25 and sought permission to file supplementary chargesheet against others later.

According to prosecution, the accused, allegedly taking bribe ranging from Rs three lakh to Rs five lakh in each case, had conspired to replace answer sheets of 399 students, who had appeared for the written exam of MPSC for the post of police sub- inspector, sales tax inspector and mantralaya assistant.

PTI