Patna: The economic offences unit (EOU) of Bihar Police claimed to have recovered post-dated cheques, believed to be issued in favour of one of the masterminds of alleged leak of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test- Undergraduate (NEET-UG) question paper.
The suspected mafia had asked for ₹30 lakh from each candidate for the question paper NEET-UG examination, held last month.
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Deputy inspector general (EOU) Manavjit Singh Dhillon said that they had recovered six post-dated cheques, issued in the name of suspected mafia in the case. “In course of investigation, EOU sleuths laid their hands on six post-dated cheques that were issued in favour of anti-socials, who reportedly facilitated question papers to the aspirants ahead of the examination,” Dhillon said.
So far, the investigating agency of Bihar police has arrested 13 people, including four examinees and their family members, in connection with the alleged NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case. All of the 13 accused hail from Bihar. Notices have been issued to other nine candidates, including seven from Bihar and one each from UP and Maharashtra, to cooperate in the probe.
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The NEET-UG 2024 was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) at 4,750 centres in 571 cities for more than 24 lakh candidates. The result of the NEET-UG 2024 was declared on June 4. However, a section of students across the country had alleged gross irregularities in the conduct of the examination, claiming that question paper was out before commencement of the exam.
A group of candidates also approached the Supreme Court demanding a fresh exam due to alleged paper leaks and concerns about the test’s integrity.
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According to police officials, nine aspirants, along with four other examinees from Bihar, arrested by the EOU, had allegedly received the exam’s question paper and answers at a ‘safe house’ near Patna a day before it was conducted on May 5. “The arrested aspirants had said that their parents had paid more than ₹30 lakh for every candidate for the question papers,” said an officer of EOU.
“The evidence of the transaction has also been found and six post-dated cheques have also been recovered during investigation,” the DIG said, adding that EOU sleuths also recovered partially burnt question papers from the safe house.
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The Bihar Police claimed that the NTA was not cooperating in the investigation. “We have sought reference question papers from the NTA, but we are still waiting for the reply. Once we get the reference question paper from NTA, the burnt question paper will be sent to forensic laboratory for its examination,” the DIG said.
EOU investigation has revealed that NEET-UG question papers and their answers were provided to around 35 aspirants before the exam. The candidates, who belonged to different places in Bihar were brought to a rented accommodation at Ramkrishna Nagar in Patna, where they were provided with the question papers and answers.
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Acting on the tip-off, the EOU had raided the rented premise and recovered mobile phones, admit cards and other incriminating documents.
Malpractices in exam will not be tolerated: Pradhan
While the Union education ministry has dismissed the paper leak theory, it stated that it will not tolerate malpractice and irregularities in the conduct of the exam. The opposition parties have been demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe in the matter.
Amid the row over NEET-UG 2024 question paper leak, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said that a lot of improvement is required in the NTA and reiterated that no culprit will be spared. Pradhan said this while interacting with media persons in his constituency in Odisha. The education minister said that some issues of mismanagement have come to light at two places in connection with the NEET-UG exam.
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“The initial information was that some students were given grace marks due to less time…secondly, some irregularities have come to light at two places. I assure the students and parents that the government has taken this seriously. We have received the information, we will take all the issues to a decisive stage.”
“Even if senior officials of the NTA are found guilty, they will not be spared. A lot of improvement is required in NTA. The government is concerned about this. No culprit will be spared. They will get the harshest punishment,” Pradhan said.
