NEET Scandal: Ministry of Education Calls for Comprehensive CBI Investigation

In a significant development concerning the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) controversy, the Ministry of Education has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct an extensive probe into the alleged irregularities surrounding the exam. The CBI took over the investigation on Sunday and has since dispatched teams to various states to gather evidence and interrogate suspects.

Arrests and Initial Findings

The Economic Offenses Unit of the Bihar Police recently arrested five individuals in connection with the NEET paper leak case, bringing the total number of arrests in the state to 18. The suspects, identified as Baldev Kumar, Mukesh Kumar, Panku Kumar, Rajeev Kumar, and Paramjeet Singh, are residents of Nalanda. Baldev Kumar is allegedly linked to the infamous Sanjeev Kumar alias Lutan Mukhiya gang, known for orchestrating multiple interstate paper leaks. According to police reports, Kumar received the solved NEET-UG exam answer sheet in PDF format on his mobile phone a day before the exam.

Modus Operandi of the Leak

The Mukhiya gang obtained the NEET-UG question paper from a private school in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. They then printed the answer sheets and distributed them to students who had gathered at a safe house in Patna’s Ram Krishna Nagar on May 4. The police have recovered partially burnt question papers from the safe house, which have been matched with the reference question paper provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA), confirming the origin of the leak.

NTA’s Response and Student Impact

Facing severe criticism over the handling of the exam, the NTA has debarred 17 students from exam centers in Bihar for engaging in malpractice. This brings the total number of debarred students to 110 since the controversy began. In response to the issue, the NTA has taken decisive action to ensure the integrity of the examination process.

On Sunday, out of 1,563 students who were asked to retake the NEET exam due to the grace marks controversy, only 813 appeared for the test. These candidates had previously been awarded grace marks to compensate for a delay in the exam’s start at six centers on May 5. This grace marks issue led to allegations of inflated scores, contributing to six candidates from a single center in Haryana scoring perfect 720 marks. Nationwide, 67 students achieved full marks in the NEET-UG exam, raising further concerns about the exam’s fairness.

Legal Actions and Broader Investigation

The CBI has registered an FIR under sections 20-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) in connection with the NEET-UG case. The Bihar and Gujarat governments have transferred cases of NEET-UG paper leaks registered by their respective police to the CBI for a more thorough investigation.

The Ministry of Education has tasked the CBI with conducting a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the alleged irregularities. This includes examining potential conspiracies, cheating, impersonation, breach of trust, and destruction of evidence by candidates, institutes, and middlemen. The probe will also explore the possible involvement of public servants in the scandal.

Reforms and Future Measures

In light of the NEET scandal, the Central government has formed a high-level panel to suggest reforms in the examination process and review the functioning of the NTA. The panel, headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, will meet on Monday to discuss and propose measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

The NEET controversy has highlighted significant vulnerabilities in the current examination system. The swift actions by the Bihar Police, the NTA, and the Ministry of Education underscore the seriousness of the issue and the commitment to uphold the integrity of the exam. Moving forward, it is crucial for educational authorities to implement robust security measures and reforms to ensure that such breaches do not recur, safeguarding the future of countless aspiring medical students.