NEET-UG paper leak case
In the NEET-UG paper leak case, investigators are currently verifying the details of account holders with the banks involved. The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police has recovered post-dated cheques believed to have been issued to a mafia that demanded over ₹30 lakh from each candidate seeking the leaked question paper ahead of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET).
Deputy Inspector General (EOU) Manavjit Singh Dhillon informed the news agency that six post-dated cheques have been recovered in the NEET-UG paper leak case. “During the investigation, EOU sleuths recovered six post-dated cheques issued in favor of criminals who reportedly facilitated question papers to the aspirants ahead of the examination,” Dhillon stated. Investigators are currently verifying the details of account holders with the concerned banks.
So far, the EOU has arrested 13 people, including four examinees and their family members, in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case, according to PTI. All 13 accused are from Bihar.
Additionally, the police have issued notices to nine candidates—seven from Bihar, one from Uttar Pradesh, and one from Maharashtra—to join the investigation.
The NEET-UG 2024 was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) at 4,750 centers in 571 cities for more than 24 lakh candidates. The results were declared on June 4. However, allegations of irregularities emerged immediately after the results were announced, with 67 students topping the exam and claims of question paper leaks in Bihar.
A group of candidates has approached the Supreme Court, demanding a fresh exam due to the alleged paper leaks and concerns about the test’s integrity. According to a PTI report, it is suspected that nine aspirants, along with four other examinees from Bihar who have already been arrested by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU), allegedly received the exam’s question paper and answers at a ‘safe house’ near Patna a day before the exam was conducted on May 5.
During interrogation, the aspirants revealed that their parents had paid over ₹30 lakh for each candidate to obtain the question papers. “Evidence of the transactions has been found, and six post-dated cheques have been recovered during the investigation,” said DIG Manavjit Singh Dhillon, according to PTI. “The EOU sleuths also recovered partially burnt question papers from the safe house. We have requested reference question papers from the NTA but have not yet received a response. Once we obtain these reference papers, we will send the burnt question papers to the appropriate forensic laboratory for examination,” the DIG added.
Sources within the EOU further disclosed that the investigation has revealed NEET-UG question papers and their answers were provided to around 35 aspirants before the exam.
The candidates, who belonged to different places in Bihar were brought to a rented accommodation at Ramkrishna Nagar in Patna, where they were provided with the question papers and answers.
The police have conducted a search at the rented premise and recovered mobile phones, admit cards and other incriminating documents, the sources said.
While the education ministry has dismissed the allegations of a paper leak in the NEET-UG 2024 exam and had said that the government would not tolerate malpractice and irregularities in the conduct of the exam, the Opposition has been demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe in the matter.
