New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET-UG exam for medical college admissions, visiting offices of the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar police in Patna and Gujarat police in Panchmahal district. The federal agency, acting on an FIR filed by the Union education ministry, has taken over five cases registered in Bihar, Gujarat, and Rajasthan related to malpractices during the exam.Paper leaks in Bihar, MaharashtraAccording to sources familiar with the matter, the cases include allegations of paper leaks in Bihar, and incidents of impersonation and cheating involving officials, invigilators, and candidates in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The CBI is focusing on interrogating Baldev Kumar alias Chintu, apprehended in Jharkhand, who allegedly received and distributed a solved NEET-UG question paper before the exam on May 5.What Education Ministry said The Union education ministry has described the issues as localised and isolated, leading to its complaint to the CBI. Despite controversies over the NEET results declared on June 4, with a notable increase in top scores, the ministry maintains there was no widespread paper leak.CBI takes over NEET UG 2024 paper leak caseBoth Bihar and Gujarat governments swiftly handed over their investigations to the CBI on Sunday, following arrests related to the alleged malpractices. In Bihar, 17 individuals were apprehended, while Gujarat police detained five, including the head of a coaching center implicated in cheating at a NEET-UG examination center in Godhra.CBI examining the entire examination The CBI, coordinating with the National Testing Agency (NTA), is examining the entire examination process from question paper setting to result compilation. The agencys scrutiny follows nationwide protests and legal challenges, culminating in the dismissal of the National Testing Authority chief responsible for conducting the NEET-UG exam.Petitions pending in SC Several petitions concerning the NEET-UG exam irregularities are pending in the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to reconvene on July 8 to address requests ranging from cancelling the exam to halting the ongoing counselling process for college admissions.The CBI spokesperson affirmed the agencys commitment to a comprehensive investigation encompassing alleged conspiracies, cheating, impersonation, breach of trust, and evidence tampering across candidates, institutions, and intermediaries involved in the NEET-UG process.CBI also investigating UGC-NET 2024Furthermore, the CBI is concurrently investigating the UGC-NET 2024 question paper leak, leading to its cancellation shortly after the exam due to intelligence indicating pre-exam leaks on the dark web.For transparency in the examination process, the Union education ministry entrusted the CBI with investigating the NEET (UG) 2024 exam, underscoring the gravity of alleged irregularities and the need for impartial inquiry.
