NEET-UG Paper Leak: CBI arrests four MBBS students of AIIMS Patna

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) detained four students from AIIMS Patna on Wednesday evening in connection with the NEET-UG question paper leak, according to sources familiar with the matter. A CBI team searched the rooms of these medical students from the 2021 and 2022 batches, confiscated their electronic devices, and took them in for questioning.

NEET-UG Paper Leak: CBI Conducts Searches

The searches were carried out in the presence of senior faculty members, including the dean and the hostel warden. AIIMS Patna Director Dr. G K Paul confirmed the detention, stating, "The CBI has taken away four AIIMS Patna students. Chandan Singh, Rahul Anant, and Kumar Shanu are third-year students and Karan Jain is a second-year student."

While the CBI has not issued an official statement on the detentions, a senior hospital official mentioned that the students are under investigation for allegedly assisting in solving the NEET-UG question paper.

NEET-UG Paper Leak: Previous Arrests Linked to the Leak

The detentions follow the arrest of Pankaj Kumar, alias Aditya, a 2017-batch civil engineer from the National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, and Rajkumar Singh, alias Raju, from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. According to the CBI, Kumar and Singh stole the question paper from a National Testing Agency (NTA) trunk in Hazaribagh. Kumar was remanded in CBI custody for 14 days, while Singh was remanded for 10 days.

NEET-UG Paper Leak: Wider Conspiracy Uncovered

The CBI has arrested 14 individuals in total and uncovered what appears to be a larger interstate conspiracy involving NEET-UG examination irregularities. One of the alleged kingpins, Rakesh Ranjan, was arrested from Nalanda and is accused of obtaining, solving, and circulating the leaked paper to MBBS aspirants.

NEET-UG Paper Leak: Multiple FIRs Filed

The investigation has led to the filing of six FIRs by the CBI. The primary FIR from Bihar pertains to the paper leak, while others from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra address issues of candidate impersonation and cheating. The agency is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024, based on a reference from the Union education ministry.

NEET-UG, conducted by the National Testing Agency, is an entrance exam for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in government and private institutions. This year's exam took place on May 5 at 4,750 centers across 571 cities, including 14 abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates participating.

(With inputs from PTI)