CBI Makes First Arrests In Bihar NEET-UG Paper Leak Scandal

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made its first arrests in the NEET-UG paper leak case in Bihar, detaining two individuals from Patna named Manish Kumar and Ashutosh. According to CBI sources, Manish Kumar facilitated the transportation of students in his car and allegedly provided an empty school for at least two dozen students to memorize the leaked paper. Ashutosh is accused of providing lodging for the students at his residence.

The arrests followed questioning by the agency on Thursday. The CBI has registered six First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with the NEET paper leak, the first of which was filed on Sunday, a day after the Ministry of Education handed over the investigation to the central agency. Prior to the CBI’s involvement, police had detained individuals in Bihar, Maharashtra, and Delhi. Among those detained was an aspirant who claimed to have received a copy of the question paper a day before the exam.

Nearly 24 lakh students appeared for the NEET-UG 2024 exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5. The results were announced on June 4, ten days ahead of schedule, but allegations of question paper leaks and the awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 students sparked protests. Several cases were filed in various courts, including the Supreme Court, which criticized the NTA’s handling of the situation.

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The issue has escalated into a major political controversy, mentioned in President Droupadi Murmu’s address to a joint session of Parliament on Thursday. The President assured that the government is committed to a fair investigation and that the culprits would face strict punishment. “The recent irregularities and paper leaks are being dealt with strongly and the government’s focus is on improving the exam process,” she stated.

Her comments provoked uproar from the opposition benches. The INDIA bloc, which now has 232 Lok Sabha MPs, is preparing to challenge the government on this matter during the ongoing parliamentary session. Additionally, the youth wing of the Congress is staging a protest at Jantar Mantar.