NEET UG Paper Leak Reaches Patna High Court: Calls for Exam Cancellation and CBI Investigation

The NEET UG exam, a crucial gateway for admission into medical courses, was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, across India, including Bihar. Shortly after the exam, reports of a paper leak surfaced, leading to the arrest of 13 individuals by the Patna police.

The NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) Undergraduate paper leak controversy has escalated, reaching the Patna High Court. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed by lawyer Vishal Saurav on behalf of advocate Sujit Kumar Sinha, demanding the cancellation of the examination and a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The plea emphasizes that the integrity of the exam and the future of millions of students are at stake due to the alleged leak.

The NEET UG exam, a crucial gateway for admission into medical courses, was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, across India, including Bihar. Shortly after the exam, reports of a paper leak surfaced, leading to the arrest of 13 individuals by the Patna police. An FIR was registered at the Shastrinagar police station, confirming the leak, and police recovered a scanned copy of the leaked paper sent to a young man in Danapur. Further arrests included four fake candidates in Purnia and one in Hajipur, attempting to sit the exam on behalf of others.

The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police, now spearheading the investigation, revealed that brokers charged aspirants between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh for the leaked papers. The brokers allegedly provided the question papers to around 35 candidates the day before the exam. This sophisticated operation involved "solvers" and significant sums exchanged to manipulate the exam process.

The PIL filed in the Patna High Court calls for a CBI probe, reflecting the growing demand among NEET UG aspirants and the public for a re-conduct of the exam. Social and political activists have also voiced their concerns on social media, urging the government to ensure justice and maintain the examination's integrity.

In response, an eight-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by EOU SP Madan Kumar Anand has been formed to investigate the scandal. The investigation has uncovered the involvement of organized gangs with a history of such activities, operating from various locations, including Learn Boys Hostel and Learn Play School in Khemnichak, Patna.

As the search for the mastermind, Sanjiv Singh, continues, the Bihar Police remains committed to bringing all perpetrators to justice and ensuring the fairness of future examinations. The scandal has heightened concerns over the NEET UG 2024's credibility, prompting calls for stringent measures to prevent future incidents.

Despite the NTA's assurances that the exam, conducted across 4,750 centers in 571 cities, proceeded smoothly apart from isolated incidents, the allegations of widespread malpractice have cast a shadow over the examination's fairness.

Read more:

• Demand Surges for NEET-UG 2024 Reexamination Amidst Patna Paper Leak Scandal
• Over Two Dozen Arrested Following NEET-UG 2024 Paper Leak in Bihar
• NEET UG 2024 Question Paper Leak Suspected in Patna: Four Detained, FIR Registered