The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made its first arrests in the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case on Thursday, apprehending Manish Kumar and Ashutosh Kumar from Patna. The duo was presented before a court following their arrest. According to officials, Manish and Ashutosh provided secure locations where aspirants received leaked papers and answer keys prior to the examination.
The CBI has filed at least six FIRs related to the NEET paper leak. The first FIR was registered on Sunday, a day after the Ministry of Education handed over the case to the agency. This decision came in response to nationwide student demands for a thorough investigation into the alleged irregularities in this year's NEET exam.
The NEET-UG 2024 examination, held on May 5, spanned 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 international locations. Over 23 lakh candidates participated in the test. After the results were declared on June 4, numerous students voiced concerns about inflated scores and leaks in specific regions.
This year's exam saw an unprecedented 67 toppers, each scoring a perfect 720/720. This contrasts sharply with previous years, where only two toppers emerged in 2023 and one in 2022.
On Wednesday, the CBI extended its probe to Jharkhand, visiting a school in Hazaribagh and questioning its staff, including the principal. Two individuals, identified as the principal and staff of Hazaribagh-based Oasis School, were released after questioning. They were interrogated at the CCL guest house in Charhi, Hazaribagh district.
In the wake of the NEET-UG exam controversy, the Centre postponed the NEET-PG 2024 exam hours before it was scheduled. Additionally, the UGC-NET 2024 exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), was canceled after its paper was leaked on the dark net.
These arrests mark a significant step in the ongoing investigation into the NEET paper leak, highlighting the CBI's efforts to address the widespread concerns over the integrity of national entrance exams. The case continues to unfold as the agency intensifies its probe into the matter.
