The police on Sunday confirmed the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak in Bihar, saying the question papers were received by the accused at Learn Play School that was used as a “safe house” by the accused. The economic offences unit said this is the work of an organised interstate racket operating out of Bihar.
According to police, the accused, Chintu, who was arrested from Devghat was also present at the playschool when the question papers were received. He got the solved question papers on the mobile phone, police said.
Police said Chintu received the solved question paper on his mobile phone on the morning of May 5, the day of the examination, and took printouts of it via a WiFi printer. The students were made to memorise the question paper, they added.
The Bihar police said it was well-planned as a drop-off point was made 2 km from the playschool and the students were brought to the playschool in taxi cabs.
The economic offences unit (EOU) has found the roll numbers of at least 15 students, who were present at the playschool of which four have been questioned.
The question paper received by the accused came from Oasis Play School in Hazaribagh, police said. There is evidence of tampering in the packaging of the question paper, they added.
Police have recorded the statements of those working in the State Bank of India, Hazaribagh, and also Blue Dart courier services.
Earlier in the day, the CBI filed an FIR in connection with the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam on a reference from the Union education ministry, amid countrywide protests and litigation by students for a probe into paper leak allegations.
Officials said the ministry alleged in a complaint, now part of the FIR, to the agency that “certain isolated incidents” took place in a few states during the conduct of the examination. The CBI plans to take over the investigation of these cases registered by the police in Gujarat and Bihar.
“Steps are being taken to take over cases registered by state police,” an official said.
The CBI action came a day after the ministry announced it will hand over the probe into the alleged irregularities to the central agency, a demand raised by a section of protesting students. “The ministry of education has requested the CBI to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the entire gamut of alleged irregularities, including conspiracy, cheating, impersonation, breach of trust and destruction of evidence by candidates, institutes and middlemen,” a CBI spokesperson said.
According to the officials, the role of public servants, if any, connected with the conduct of the examination and also into the entire gamut of events, and the larger conspiracy will also be under the scanner. They said the CBI registered a fresh case against unidentified persons under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) among others.
(With PTI inputs)
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