NEET-UG paper leak case: CBI arrests key accused who stole the papers from NTA trunk

The CBI has so far made 14 arrests in connection with the case

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials said on July 16 that the agency has made two more arrests in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak case, including one of the key accused, who allegedly stole the paper from a National Testing Agency (NTA) trunk in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

With these two fresh arrests, the total number of accused persons nabbed in connection with the case – including paper leak, impersonation and other irregularities in the medical entrance exam -- has reached 14, the CBI said.

The investigating agency nabbed Pankaj Kumar alias Aditya, a 2017-batch civil engineer from National Institute of Technology (NIT) Jamshedpur. He is alleged to be the person who stole the NEET-UG paper. He is a resident of Bokaro and was arrested from Patna, CBI officials informed.

The other person arrested by the CBI is Raju Singh, who allegedly helped Kumar in stealing the paper and passing them on to other gang members. Singh was arrested from Hazaribagh, CBI officials added.

The agency, which is probing the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam, has registered six FIRs so far. The FIR from Bihar pertains to leakage of paper while the remaining from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra are related to impersonation of candidates and cheating.

The CBI FIR, which was filed basis a reference from the Union Education Ministry, pertains to a “comprehensive investigation” into the alleged irregularities in the examination.

NEET-UG is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions. This year, the exam was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. More than 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the test.

(With PTI inputs)