CBI Cracks Down on NEET-UG Paper Leak, Arrests Two Key Accused Individuals

In a significant breakthrough in the NEET-UG paper leak case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two individuals, including a key accused, who allegedly stole the examination paper from a sealed trunk belonging to the National Testing Agency (NTA) in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday, taking the total number of individuals detained in connection with various irregularities in the medical entrance exam to 14.

One of the arrested individuals is Pankaj Kumar, also known as Aditya, a civil engineer from the 2017 batch at the National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur. Kumar, a resident of Bokaro, was apprehended in Patna. According to authorities, he played a crucial role in the theft of the NEET-UG paper from the NTA’s trunk. The CBI alleges that Kumar was involved in the theft and was responsible for facilitating the leakage of the examination paper.

The second individual arrested, Raju Singh, is accused of assisting Kumar in the theft and distributing the stolen papers to other members of the gang. Singh was taken into custody in Hazaribagh. The CBI is investigating the alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET-UG examination, having registered six FIRs. One FIR, originating from Bihar, pertains specifically to the paper leakage, while the others, from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, are linked to candidate impersonation and cheating during the exam.

The investigation was initiated following a referral from the Union Ministry of Education, highlighting the CBI’s commitment to addressing corruption in the educational system. The CBI is conducting a comprehensive probe into the alleged irregularities, and the agency is working to ensure that those responsible for the leakage are brought to justice.

The arrests bring to light the extent of the corruption and irregularities that have plagued the NEET-UG examination. The CBI’s efforts to crack down on the paper leak are a significant step towards restoring faith in the examination process and ensuring that students are not unfairly disadvantaged by the actions of a few individuals.