Why is #NEET_PAPER_LEAK Trending? Bihar Police have so far arrested 13 people, including four examinees and their family members, in connection with the alleged question paper leak of the NEET-UG.
NEET PAPER LEAK: Following the conclusion of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test(NEET-UG) examination on May 5, 2024, reports of the NEET Paper leak went viral on social media platforms. Dismissing NEET Paper Leaks, the National Testing Agency(NTA) released an important notice stating that the social media posts pointing towards any paper leak are completely baseless and without any ground.
“It has been ascertained from NTA’s security protocols and Standard Operating Procedures that the Social Media Posts pointing towards any paper leak are completely baseless and without any ground. To put rumours to rest, it is also stated that every single Question Paper (QP) has been accounted for. Further, it is also to be noted that after the gates of the Examination Centres are closed, no one from outside is permitted access inside the Halls which are under CCTV surveillance,” reads the official notice dated(May 6, 2024).
NEET Paper Leak: 13 Persons Arrested in NTA NEET UG Paper Leak Scandal
As per the news agency PTI report(May 11), Bihar Police have so far arrested 13 people, including four examinees and their family members, in connection with the alleged question paper leak of the NEET-UG held on May 5, officials said. Investigation into the “paper leak” was handed over to the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the Bihar Police on Friday, they said. “The case was being investigated by a special team of the Patna Police till now. A total of 13 people, including four examinees and their family members, have been arrested so far. Besides, one of the arrested accused is also involved in the Bihar Public Service Commission’s (BPSC) Teachers Recruitment Exam (TRE)-3 paper leak case,” an EOU release added. PTI reported.
“All the accused are in judicial custody and EOU sleuths will start their custodial interrogation. Police have already seized incriminating documents and electronic devices from the possession of the accused. Investigations so far have revealed that the question papers of NEET-UG and their answers were provided to around 35 aspirants before the May 5 exam,” it said, PTI reported.
A staggering revelation has surfaced as the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police unearthed a colossal NEET paper leak scandal. The scandal implicates a complex network of brokers who purportedly leaked exam papers to candidates in exchange for hefty sums of money, shiksha.com reported. As per Bihar Police Headquarters reports, brokers preyed upon vulnerable medical aspirants, extorting between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh from each candidate, pledging leaked question papers before the medical entrance examination. These individuals were housed in lodges in Patna, purportedly receiving question papers disguised as NEET-UG materials for memorization.
As per a PTI report(May 9), a criminal case has been registered against a schoolteacher in Godhra in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district and two others for their alleged involvement in trying to help six candidates appearing for the NEET-UG competitive exam by promising to solve their papers for a sum of Rs 10 lakh each. The racket was unearthed at a Godhra school designated as a centre for the NEET-UG exam held on Sunday for entrance to medical colleges after the district collector received a tip-off that some persons were involved in malpractice, according to an FIR.
As per the PTI report, a physics teacher identified as Tushar Bhatt, who was the deputy superintendent of exam at the centre, was booked along with two others — Parsuram Roy and Arif Vora. Rs 7 lakh in cash was recovered from Bhatt’s car which was paid to him by Vora as an advance to help a candidate get into the merit list, said the police, As per an understanding reached between the accused and some NEET-UG (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) aspirants, the latter were asked to leave blank questions whose answers they did not know. The answers of these questions were to be written once the papers were collected after the exam, they said, quoting the FIR.
‘Conduct Re-NEET UG 2024 Exam,’: Medical Aspirants Flood Social Media With Requests Amidst Patna Paper Leak Scandal
Sharing a post on X, a user wrote, “There is proper evidence of paper leaks and misconduct of neet 2024 all over the country, NTA MUST COME FORWARD AND ADDRESS #NEET_PAPER_LEAK.”
There is proper evidence of paper leaks and misconduct of neet 2024 all over the country, NTA MUST COME FORWARD AND ADDRESS #NEET_PAPER_LEAK
— Sankhadip Das (@Sankhadipdas350) May 15, 2024
Calling for justice, candidates are urging the authorities to conduct a re-examination for NEET-UG 2024, citing examples where examinations were swiftly canceled by the government in instances of confirmed leaks. Dr. Vivek Pandey, an RTI activist, stressed the immediacy of the situation, referencing past instances where exams were canceled due to paper leak, Taking to X, Pandey wrote,” As per @NTA_Exams they don’t have any strong evidence of paper leak. Patna police already said in their press release that paper was leaked, even they told the same to court. Then why NTA denying facts ?.”
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising eight members, led by EOU SP Madan Kumar Anand, has been formed to investigate the NEET Paper Leak case. The probe has unveiled the engagement of organized gangs with a track record of similar activities. As per shiksha.com report, Police investigations have disclosed that gang members conducted operations from Learn Boys Hostel and Learn Play School in Khemnichak, Patna, purportedly solving answer papers for numerous aspirants.
As per @NTA_Exams they don’t have any strong evidence of paper leak.
Patna police already said in their press release that paper was leaked, even they told the same to court. Then why NTA denying facts ?#NEETscam #NEET_PAPER_LEAK #NEET #ReNEET pic.twitter.com/iXZGiUa1wy
— Dr Vivek Pandey (@Vivekpandey21) May 14, 2024
“The NEET paper has been leaked on a large scale. When will the youth get justice??✅🚨♂️ #NEET_PAPER_LEAK #NeetPaperLeak #neet2024 #NEETUG2024 #NEET?” reads another post on X.
The NEET paper has been leaked on a large scale. When will the youth get justice??✅🚨♂️#NEET_PAPER_LEAK #NeetPaperLeak #neet2024 #NEETUG2024 #NEET pic.twitter.com/sBlD148zgN
— Mukesh Choudhary (@CH0UDHARY5) May 15, 2024
The NEET UG 2024 saw record-high registrations this year, with over 24 lakh students registering, the highest ever, with over 10 lakh male students, and over 13 lakh female students. This increase was facilitated by opting for several smaller cities as centers, especially in the Northeast, apart from Puducherry, Jammu and Kashmir, and other states.
The NEET (UG) is an all India entrance test for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS) and AYUSH (BAMS, BUMS, BHMS) courses in government and private institutions in India.