NEET Paper Leak 2024: From CBI FIR To Arrests Made In The Case, Key Developments So Far In Probe

Furore over ‘uncertainties’ in the medical entrance exam, NEET, has shaken the entire country. Students from across the country are holding a vehement protest demanding a re exam. Besides, EOU and Bihar Police have launched a comprehensive operation to nab people behind orchestrating the ‘fraud’. So far, several accused and students have been taken into custody. An FIR has also been filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case after taking up the probe, PTI reported citing officials.  

How The Pandemonium Began:

On May 5, the Shashtri Nagar Police Station in Patna received information that an organised group, along with some candidates and exam conductors, had leaked the NEET UG examination paper. The police obtained information about few miscreants roaming in a Duster car.

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The police surrounded the vehicle and apprehended three persons-- Sikandar Yadavendu, Akhilesh Kumar, and Bittu Kumar-- who were the car occupants. When the police searched the vehicle, they found admit cards of four NEET candidates named Abhishek Kumar, Shivanandan Kumar, Ayush Raj, and Anurag Yadav on the dashboard. The police took all of them into custody.

Sikandar Yadavendu’s arrest was the biggest breakthrough in the case. During questioning, the told police that some of his candidates were taking the exam at various centers in Patna. Sikandar also told the police that he facilitated cheating in the NEET exam through Sanjeev Singh, Rocky, Nitish, and Amit Anand. These setters provided the answers to the questions for the candidates to memorise.

NEET Aspirant Ayush’s Arrest:

Based on information given by Sikandar, the police reached the examination center at 4 pm . The center director, upon checking Ayush's admit card, informed the police that this candidate was taking the exam in room number 28. As soon as Ayush completed his exam and came out, he was apprehended by the police.

Ayush was brought in for questioning and in front of the police, he admitted that on the night of May 4, he was taken to a hotel and a play school in Ramkrishnanagar, Patna, to memorise the answers. He also confessed that the answers provided covered 100 per cent of the questions. Ayush further revealed that around 20-25 other candidates were also given the answers of the questions which were to be asked in the exam.

On the nights of May 4 and 5, a special team of the Patna Police arrested Amit Anand and Neetish from a flat in AG Colony, Shashtrinagar. Simultaneously, immediately after the exam, the police also arrested four NEET candidates - Ayush Raj, Anurag Yadav, Abhishek Kumar, and Shivanandan Kumar. In total, 13 people, including setters, candidates, and their accomplices, were apprehended in connection with the incident.

FIR And Police Raids:

On May 5, Shashtrinagar police inspector Amar Kumar filed his initial statement. Concurrently, based on seized evidence and information obtained from investigation, a special team of the Patna Police began conducting raids at various locations across Patna.

EOU Took Over Probe:

On May 10, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) took charge of investigating the NEET paper leak. Subsequently, ADG Nayar Hasnain Khan formed an SIT under the leadership of DIG Manavjeet Singh Dhillon. Following this, the investigation into the paper leak began. On June 12, the EOU demanded the NEET question papers from the NTA for comparison. After three remands, admit cards of nine candidates were sent to the NTA.

Education Ministry Seeks Report:

Meanwhile, after significant progress in the investigation, the Ministry of Education demanded a report from the EOU on June 20. During EOU's advanced investigation, connections to Jharkhand were found, and the name of the Ravi Atri group along with Sanjeev Mukhiya of Nalanda also surfaced in the paper leak case. On June 22, acting on information from the EOU, police in Deoghar, Jharkhand, launched raids in the suspected areas. Six individuals were taken into custody from a rented room. All of them are residents of Nalanda, Bihar. They are currently being interrogated.

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CBI Probe Ordered:

The Ministry of Education has handed over the investigation of the NEET-UG paper leak case to the CBI. The CBI will also investigate the role of NTA officials in this matter.

List Of People Arrested In The Case So Far: