NEET paper leak mastermind Sanjeev Mukhiya arrested

NEET paper leak mastermind Sanjeev Mukhiya arrested

In a major development in the NEET-UG 2025 paper leak investigation, prime accused Sanjeev Mukhiya was arrested by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police. The arrest was confirmed on Friday, April 25, 2025, by Additional Director General Naiyar Hussain Khan. Mukhiya was apprehended late Thursday night following an intensive manhunt. Earlier, a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh had been announced by the Bihar Police for any information leading to his capture.

The NEET paper leak case first came to light in May 2024 when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a detailed chargesheet before a special court in Patna. Investigations revealed that the question paper for NEET UG 2024 had been stolen from the control room of OASIS School in Hazaribagh on May 5, soon after it arrived from a bank vault. The breach was carried out with the help of the school’s Principal, Ahsanul Haque, and Vice Principal, Imtiyaz Alam, who allowed accused Pankaj Kumar access to the secured area.

According to the CBI, Pankaj Kumar tampered with the trunk containing the question papers, removed one paper, photographed it entirely, and then resealed the trunk to avoid detection. The solved paper was later distributed to candidates who had gathered at Raj Guest House in Hazaribagh. These documents were also digitally shared to specific locations, with only prepaid candidates allowed access. All printed materials were confiscated post-exam to eliminate evidence.

Crucial forensic evidence, including half-burnt question paper fragments, was later discovered at Learn Play School in Patna, ultimately leading investigators to the source of the leak. The arrest of Sanjeev Mukhiya is expected to help uncover the full extent of the network behind this serious breach of examination integrity.