NEET-UG 2024 Paper Leak: Accused Confesses; Supreme Court to Hear Fresh Petition Today

Major Revelations and Legal Developments in NEET-UG 2024 Paper Leak Case

In a significant breakthrough in the NEET UG 2024 paper leak case, accused Anurag Yadav has confessed to the leak and detailed his involvement. According to his statement to the police, the question paper was indeed leaked and identical to the one used in the exam, with all questions matching exactly. Yadav revealed that he received the paper a day before the exam and was summoned from Kota to Patna by his uncle, who facilitated the arrangement. Yadav memorized the answers overnight and was subsequently arrested after the exam, as per the confession copy (Shiksha has copy of the Confession).

Amit Anand, identified as the mastermind behind the NEET paper leak, has also purportedly confessed, revealing the pricing strategy for the leaked papers and the method of preparing students with answers the day before the exam.

The controversy erupted when the NEET UG 2024 exam results, announced on June 4, revealed an unprecedented 67 students achieving perfect scores of 720 out of 720, raising suspicions of malpractice. Following this, the National Testing Agency (NTA) decided on June 13 to re-examine students awarded grace marks, but the decision has not quelled student outrage.

In response to the growing concerns, the Supreme Court is set to hear fresh petitions on Thursday requesting the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 exam due to these allegations. A vacation bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice SVN Bhatti will review the petitions, which include ten filed by 49 students and the Student Federation of India. The petitioners demand the annulment of the exam results and a fresh examination, with an investigation by an independent agency or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged irregularities.

The Supreme Court emphasized the need for thorough accountability, stating, "If there is 0.001 per cent negligence on the part of anyone, it should be thoroughly dealt with." The court has issued notices to the NTA and set a deadline for a response.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has requested a detailed report from the Economic Offences Unit of the Bihar Police concerning the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 exam conducted in Patna. In a statement, the Ministry reassured that concerns regarding grace marks have been addressed and reiterated its commitment to maintaining the integrity of examinations and protecting students' interests.

In light of the scandal, the NTA announced it would invalidate the scorecards of 1,563 candidates who received grace marks due to exam disruptions, allowing them to retake the exam. As investigations continue and legal proceedings unfold, the focus remains on ensuring the fairness and integrity of one of India's most crucial entrance exams.