The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case. The agency has uncovered startling details about an elaborate scheme that compromised the integrity of this highly competitive medical entrance exam.
According to the CBI, the mastermind behind the operation gained access to the strongroom at the Oasis School in Hazaribagh on May 5th, the morning of the exam itself. The agency claims to have CCTV footage that supports this claim, alleging that the individual used specialized tools to bypass the security measures in place at the strongroom where the question papers were stored.
The CBI has implicated the school principal, Ehsanul Haque, and centre superintendent, Imtiyaz Alam, in the scam, alleging they received substantial financial incentives in exchange for their cooperation. Both individuals have denied any wrongdoing. The agency claims to have recovered post-dated cheques as evidence of these transactions, alleging the payments were made in multiple installments.
The leak is believed to have benefitted a total of 155 students, with 30 in Patna and 125 in Hazaribagh allegedly receiving the leaked paper. The scale of the operation highlights the severity of the situation and its potential impact on the careers of thousands of aspiring medical students.
During the court deposition, the CBI provided detailed information about the breach. One door was locked with a key given to the center superintendent, while the rear door was deliberately left open. The locked door was secured at 7:53 am, and the main accused, Pankaj Kumar alias Aditya, entered through the rear door at 8:02 am, leaving at 9:23 am. He spent one hour and 20 minutes in the control room, providing ample time to take and forward photographs of the exam paper.
The CBI noted discrepancies in tick marks on hard copies and indicated that the images were sent to a counterpart, not directly to the solvers. Printouts of the photos were then taken. After the solvers completed the question paper, the hard copy was scanned and sent to one more location in Hazaribagh and two locations in Patna.
The CBI’s findings have sent shockwaves through the education system, raising serious concerns about the security measures in place for high-stakes exams. The case has also underscored the urgent need for stricter regulations and harsher penalties for those involved in such illegal activities.
As the investigation progresses, further revelations are expected to come to light, shedding more light on the complex network behind the NEET paper leak. The incident has sparked outrage among students and parents who have been working tirelessly to crack this highly competitive exam. The leak has not only jeopardized the fair chances of honest students but has also undermined the credibility of the entire examination process.
