UGC-NET Paper Leak Case: CBI Team Attacked In Bihar's Nawada

A team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the UGC-NET paper leak case was attacked in Bihar’s Nawada on Saturday. Four persons were arrested by police in connection with the incident on a complaint filed by the central probe agency, officials said.

The CBI on Thursday had filed an FIR in the UGC-Net exam paper leak case under sections of criminal conspiracy and cheating a day after the Centre had ordered the cancellation of the said examination amid serious questions on the “integrity” of the exams.

The incident took place on Saturday evening when a CBI team had gone to Kasiadeeh village. A mob gathered around the CBI vehicles and heckled the officers, officials noted.

A call was made to the local police station and force from Rajauli police station was dispatched to the scene, following which an FIR was filed by the local police against the accused on charges of causing disruption in government work and assault, among others.

The local police arrested four persons allegedly involved in the attack and they were sent to judicial custody, a PTI report said.

The Union Education Ministry had handed over the matter to the CBI for probe on Wednesday.

Education Ministry Joint Secretary Govind Jaiswal had said that prima facie the government felt the exam had been compromised.

“No complaints were received but the inputs we received from agencies indicated that the integrity of the exam has been compromised. The action was taken suo motu to safeguard the interests of the students,” Jaiswal had said.

“9 lakh students had participated in the UGC-NET exam that the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted on June 18. The ministry saw that there was a chance that the examination had been compromised. The ministry has decided to cancel the examination. The next date will be declared soon. The matter has been referred to the CBI,” he had added.

The NET exam was cancelled amid allegations of question paper leaks in states like Bihar and other irregularities in the prestigious NEET examination.