NEET 2024 paper leak investigation: 11 candidates issued notices by EOU in Bihar

Patna: In its ongoing investigation on the allegations of a paper leak in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2024, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police has identified 11 more candidates who are suspected to be involved with the crime and issued them notices accordingly.

As per an IANS report, the notices were served to them after their names and roll codes were found from the possession of the previously arrested examination mafias. Of these 11 candidates, seven are girls who hail from different districts of Bihar.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET UG examination had earlier completely rejected any irregularities in NEET 2024 and has now provided the details like phone numbers and addresses of the 11 candidates to Bihar EOU. 

Also read- NEET Candidates Paid Up To Rs 50 Lakhs For Getting Question Papers In Advance: Bihar EOU

As a result, the EOU has served notices to these candidates and their guardians summoning them for questioning regarding the alleged crime. An investigation to examine whether the gang distributed leaked question papers to these candidates ahead of the exam is underway. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that Patna police sources had earlier claimed that the question papers of the NEET-UG exam along with their answers were provided to around 20 aspirants a day before the date of the exam i.e. May 5, 2024. 

Earlier, 13 people, including six exam mafias, four candidates and three parents were arrested for their alleged involvement in the paper leak of the NEET-UG exam and were sent to jail. One of the arrested accused is also involved in the Bihar Public Service Commission's Teachers Recruitment Exam (TRE)-3.

At the instance of the arrested accused, the EOU had found partially burnt question papers in Learn Play School located under the jurisdiction of Ramakrishna Nagar police station of Patna. The EOU found the partially burnt question papers in booklet number 6136488, whose contents were the same as that of the NEET (UG) 2024 paper, IANS reports.

The EOU had asked for the original copy of booklet number 6136488 from the NTA about a month ago, but even after three reminders, the original copy has not been provided. In their statement, the arrested candidates said they had received the question paper on May 4, a day before the examination and it was the same. 

EOU had earlier mentioned in a release that as per the investigation, the question papers of NEET-UG and their answers were provided to around 35 aspirants before the May 5 exam.

The NEET result, scheduled to come on June 14, was announced on June 4. In the NEET (UG) examination, the most surprising aspect was that 67 candidates scored cent per cent marks and thousands of students scored more than 700 marks. A total of 24 lakh candidates appeared for the exams and more than 13 lakh candidates passed it.

"Suggestive of a paper leak": Bihar police

The EOU's investigation into the alleged paper leak scam has indicated signs pointing towards a paper leak according to statements from the Additional Director General of Police, N H Khan, as reported by the Indian Express.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Additional Director General of Police, EOU, N H Khan said, “We had asked a set of questions to the National Testing Agency, which organises NEET. Our team has just received answers. We may have some follow-up questions. We have been working on some contacts we have received in the course of our investigation, which is very much suggestive of a paper leak.”

No Evidence Of NEET Paper Leak: Edu Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Medical Dialogues team yesterday reported that amidst the controversy surrounding NEET 2024 this year, the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan rejected allegations of paper leak or rigging in the MBBS entrance exam saying that there is no evidence to substantiate the claims, and accused the opposition of spreading lies without knowing facts.

"No concrete evidence of any kind of rigging, corruption or paper leak has been found so far in the NEET exam. All the facts related to this are before the Supreme Court and are under consideration. The kind of politics being done on this issue is only an attempt to spread confusion and it affects the mental peace of the students," Mr Pradhan said, quotes PTI.

"Currently, the counselling process of NEET is about to start and making it a subject of political sparring is not only unfair but it is like playing with the future generation. The focus of the central government is always on ensuring a bright future for the students," he added.

His comments came on a day the NTA told the Supreme Court that the decision to award grace marks to 1,563 candidates in NEET-UG for admission to MBBS, BDS and other courses was cancelled and they would be given the option to take a retest on June 23.

These affected candidates will be notified about their actual scores obtained in the NEET UG 2024 exam held on 05.05.2024 and they will be given a choice of either retaining the original marks (without the compensatory marks) or appearing in a re-exam conducted by NTA likely on 23rd June. They further informed that the results of this option re-exam will be published before 30th June, 2024, so that the counselling for NEET UG 2024 can commence from July 6th, 2024.

Also read- No Evidence Of Paper Leak In NEET 2024, Says Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan