NEET-UG paper leak case: CBI arrests two from Patna

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday made its first arrests in connection with its investigation into alleged irregularities in NEET-UG 2024. CBI arrested two individuals - Manish Kumar and Ashutosh Kumar - from Patna. The agency has registered six FIRs in the NEET paper leak case.

According to people in the know, the two accused allegedly provided safe premises to aspirants before the exam. The aspirants were given leaked papers and answer keys.

People quoted above said that Manish allegedly facilitated students' transportation in his car and is suspected of taking them to an empty school, where at least two dozen aspirants were given the leaked paper. Co-accused Ashutosh allegedly provided lodging for students at his residence. The duo was called for questioning on Thursday after which they were arrested.


After CBI registered the criminal case, Bihar and Gujarat governments issued notifications to transfer their local NEET-UG paper leak cases to the central agency.

The CBI FIR stated that NEET-UG 2024 was conducted by the National Testing Agency on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination.

The complaint alleged that certain isolated incidents occurred in a few states during the conduct of NEET-UG.

Last week, CBI had also registered a case to probe irregularities in UGC-NET 2024.