The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a fresh FIR in the NEET-UG paper leak soon after taking over the probe into the matter, official sources said.
This comes a day after the Centre announced that the probe into the alleged irregularities, cheating, impersonation, and malpractices reported in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG), which was conducted on May 5, would be handed over to the agency.
The officials said that the CBI registered a fresh case against unidentified persons on a reference from the Union education ministry. Around 24 lakh students have taken the medical entrance test.
They said the ministry had to give in to demands of students protesting in several cities for an investigation into alleged malpractices.
“Certain cases of alleged irregularities, cheating, impersonation, and malpractice have been reported in NEET-UG which was conducted on May 5,” a senior education ministry official said.
“For transparency in the conduct of the examination process, it was decided after a review that the matter be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive investigation,” the official added.
According to sources, the CBI will investigate the ‘larger conspiracy’ behind the paper leak and other discrepancies.
If need be, the CBI will seek help from the local investigating agencies across the country, they said.
The probe agency has left aside the investigations conducted by the Bihar Police and cops from other states.
Bihar Police on Friday night detained six more people from Jharkhand’s Deoghar district in connection with the alleged leak of NEET paper in the state, an official said. Its Economic Offences Unit last month arrested 13 people, including prime suspect Sikandar Yadavendu, in connection with the alleged paper leak.
The EOU is also exploring the “possibility of conducting narco analysis and brain mapping tests” of the accused, sources said.
They also indicated that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) might investigate the money laundering aspect.
THE CONTROVERSY
The examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates appeared. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4.
As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA’s history, with six from a centre in Haryana’s Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities.
Comments
0 comment