India, Sept. 12 -- The furore surrounding the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) paper-leak controversy turned into a confrontation on Friday when three activists from the Sambhaji Brigade smeared the face of the commission's secretary Mahendra Harpalkar with black powder inside the MPSC's CBD Belapur headquarters. They threatened a similar act against MPSC chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar if the government failed to remove both from their respective posts.

The three - the outfit's state vice-president Annasaheb Sawant, Mumbai president Suhas Rane and regional coordinator Dr Yogesh Patil -- were subsequently arrested. According to DCP Zone II Amit Kale, Sawant and Rane blackened Harpalkar's face while Patil filmed the act.

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