The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested four medical students from AIIMS Patna on Thursday in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak case. Following the arrests, Dr Gopal Krushna Pal, Director of AIIMS Patna, announced that the medical institute would take action if the students are found guilty. Dr Pal confirmed the arrests, stating that the CBI had informed the institute about the formal arrest of the four students. However, he clarified that AIIMS Patna had not yet received any written documentation regarding the arrests.
Dr Pal revealed that the AIIMS administrative committee had convened a meeting to discuss the issue. The committee decided to suspend the students, subject to legal opinion. However, the suspension order is currently in abeyance pending the receipt of written documentation from the CBI. The AIIMS Director further emphasized that the institute would wait for a formal written confirmation from the CBI regarding the students being in judicial custody. He reiterated that no decision regarding the students’ suspension would be taken until they are found guilty, as it could have serious implications for their careers. Dr Pal asserted that appropriate action would be taken if the students are found guilty.
According to CBI sources, the four accused, identified as Karan Jain, Kumar Sanu, Rahul Anand, and Chandan Singh, were involved in solving exam papers for the main accused, Pankaj Singh. All four accused have been remanded to four days of CBI custody. The CBI previously arrested two other individuals, Pankaj Kumar Singh and Raju Singh, on July 16 in connection with the case. Pankaj Singh was apprehended in Patna, while Raju Singh was arrested in Hazaribagh. A senior CBI official disclosed that Pankaj Singh managed to steal the question paper while it was being transported from Hazaribagh in a sealed iron trunk. Pankaj Singh, a civil engineer, holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from NIT Jamshedpur.
The NEET-UG exam, held on May 5, 2024, has been marred by controversy, with allegations of cheating and impersonation surfacing. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the exam, has faced intense criticism, leading to protests and legal actions. The Union Health Ministry has postponed the NEET-PG 2024 examination, with new dates to be announced shortly. The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the NTA, serves as the gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in government and private institutions across India. Approximately 24 lakh candidates participated in the NEET-UG 2024, which was held across 4,750 centers on May 5th.
