On Thursday, 27 June 2024, two individuals from Patna, identified as Manish Kumar and Ashutosh were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after they were called for questioning in the NEET-UG paper leak case in Bihar.
According to CBI sources, Manish Kumar allegedly facilitated the transportation of students using his car and is suspected of providing access to an empty school where at least two dozen students were given the leaked exam paper to memorise. Ashutosh reportedly offered lodging for the students at his residence.
The CBI has filed six First Information Reports (FIRs) regarding the NEET paper leak case, with the first FIR registered on Sunday, following the Ministry of Education's decision to transfer the investigation to the central agency.
Prior to the CBI arrests, the police had detained several individuals in Bihar, Maharashtra, and Delhi. Among those taken into custody was an aspirant who claimed that he and a few others had received a copy of the exam paper a day before the test.
On May 5, nearly 24 lakh students took the NEET-UG 2024 exam for undergraduate medical courses, administered by the National Testing Agency. 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. Legal cases were also filed, including in the Supreme Court, which criticized the NTA.
The issue has escalated into a significant political controversy and was mentioned in President Droupadi Murmu's address to a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on Thursday. The President assured that the government is "committed to a fair investigation" and vowed that those responsible 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 said.
Her remarks led to an uproar from the opposition benches.
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