Three Papers Leaked, Six States Involved, and CBI Steps In... Who is the Mastermind Behind This Conspiracy?

The NEET UG paper leak case has seen the Bihar Economic Offenses Unit (EOU) taking significant actions. The paper leak appears to be linked across six states. Additionally, the UP STF has arrested six individuals in Bhopal concerning the RO and ARO recruitment exam paper leak. Let's delve into the details and understand the actions taken so far.

**NEET Paper Leak Unveiled**

The NEET UG paper leak scandal has caused nationwide uproar. Students are protesting on the streets, and opposition parties are targeting the central government. In Bihar and Jharkhand, the EOU and state police have conducted numerous raids, resulting in over 30 arrests. The NEET exam, held on May 5, 2024, across 4,750 centers in 571 cities, saw 23 lakh candidates participating.

**Unusual Topping Results Raise Suspicions**

The NEET UG results, announced on June 4, showed an unprecedented 67 students achieving top ranks with identical percentiles of 99.997129. This raised eyebrows, as never before had so many students achieved perfect scores simultaneously. This anomaly led to suspicions of foul play, with 8 of these top scorers from a single exam center. The Supreme Court has now taken up the case, with hearings scheduled for July 8.

**Wide-ranging Connections and Arrests**

1. **Bihar and Jharkhand:** Investigations revealed significant fraud in Bihar, with the EOU discovering solver gangs and arresting 13 individuals, including mastermind Amit Anand and accomplice Sikandar Yaduvindu. In Jharkhand, 6 more arrests were made in connection with paper leaks traced to a notorious school in Hazaribagh.

2. **Gujarat's Godhra Connection:** The NEET paper leak scandal extended to Godhra, Gujarat, where a school superintendent and deputy superintendent were arrested for allegedly facilitating cheating for a bribe of Rs 10 lakh per student.

3. **Maharashtra's Latur Incident:** In Maharashtra, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested two teachers in Latur and linked them to the paper leak. This led to further arrests and an FIR filed against four individuals.

**CBI Steps In**

The Education Ministry has handed over the NEET UG paper leak investigation to the CBI. The CBI registered its first FIR on the matter, taking over state-level FIRs and custody of arrested individuals. This move aims to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.

**Impact on Other Exams**

Following the NEET scandal, the UGC NET June 2024 exam, held on June 18, was canceled due to suspected irregularities. The National Testing Agency (NTA) also postponed the CSIR UGC NET exam scheduled for June 25-27, citing resource constraints and ongoing investigations.

**UP RO and ARO Exam Scandal**

In addition to the NEET scandal, the UP STF exposed a paper leak in the RO and ARO exams conducted in February. The leak was traced to a Bhopal printing press and a Prayagraj exam center, leading to the arrest of 10 individuals, including a school exam center administrator.

The ongoing investigations across multiple states highlight the pervasive issue of exam fraud in India. Authorities are working tirelessly to ensure academic integrity and restore faith in the education system.