New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially taken over the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak investigation, collecting substantial evidence from the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the Bihar police.
Key Evidence Collected:
The evidence gathered includes a partially burnt question paper recovered from a house in Patna, mobile phones, laptops, post-dated cheques, and reference question papers from the National Testing Agency (NTA). These materials are crucial to the ongoing investigation.
Arrests and Interrogations:
A two-member CBI team, consisting of a DIG and a deputy SP, arrived in Patna to meet with EOU officials and officers from the Shastri Nagar Police Station, where the first case was lodged. The CBI plans to record statements from the 18 individuals arrested, including the prime suspect Sikandar Yadavendu, his associates, several aspirants, and their parents. The agency may transport the accused to Delhi for detailed questioning, pending a transit remand from a court.
Investigation Details:
“The CBI collected all material evidence related to the case from the EOU. The pieces of evidence included a partially burnt question paper recovered from a house in Patna, mobile phones of those arrested, laptops, post-dated cheques, and reference question papers provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA),” a source said.
The NTA conducted the NEET-UG on May 5 across 4,750 centres, with around 24 lakh candidates appearing for the exam.
Legal Actions and Charges:
The CBI is expected to file FIRs related to the destruction of evidence and register disproportionate assets (DA) cases against some public servants involved. “A DA case may be registered against arrested accused Sikandar Yadavendu, a junior engineer in the Danapur Town Council. He reportedly acquired huge assets that are disproportionate to his known source of income,” a source revealed. Yadavendu has a history of criminal activities and has served a jail term.
Several student unions, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Tribal Students Union (TSU), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), and Tribal Youth Federation (TYF), organized large-scale protests against NEET corruption. Demonstrators held placards and chanted slogans in several cities, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The students highlighted the emotional and psychological toll on those who rigorously prepared for the exams, only to have their efforts undermined by corrupt practices.
Political Reactions:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abolish NEET and revert to state-conducted exams. In light of the paper leak, Banerjee stated, “In the wake of the paper leak row, PM Modi should consider abolishing NEET and reverting to the system of states conducting the exam.”
The opposition RJD shared photographs linking accused Amit Anand, Nitish Kumar, and family members of Sanjeev Kumar alias Lutan Mukhiya with leaders of the ruling NDA, calling for a thorough probe into these connections. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha claimed, “The arrested prime suspect in the NEET paper leak case is linked to officials associated with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.”
Amidst the NEET and UGC NET examination controversies, Nationalist Congress Party leader Rohit Pawar led a delegation to meet Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais. They demanded state legislation similar to central government measures to curb exam paper leaks and irregularities.
The CBI continues its investigation, aiming to uncover the full extent of the corruption and ensure accountability, bringing justice to the affected students and restoring integrity to the examination process.
