The nation is currently swept by the frenzy of widespread examination paper leaks. From prominent evaluations like NEET and UGC-NET being compromised, to the continuous arrests related to the Review Officer (RO) and Assistant Review Officer (ARO) recruitment exam conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, students across the country are in turmoil. The menace of leaking papers and examination malpractices remains rampant and unresolved in every state.
The threads of these paper leak cases are tracing back to six different states. Amidst this, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has stepped into the NEET UG paper leak case. In Uttar Pradesh, the crackdown on the RO and ARO paper leak affair continues. Let's first attempt to understand the actions being taken in each situation.
The NEET paper leak scandal unfolds
The NEET paper leak has caused a national uproar, with the opposition relentlessly attacking the central government. In Bihar and Jharkhand, separate teams from the state police and the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) have been raiding multiple locations. Over 30 individuals have been arrested thus far. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the NEET examination across 571 cities and 4,750 centers on May 5, 2024, including 14 cities in India. Over 23 million candidates participated in the examination.
67 students simultaneously topping raises eyebrows
When the results of the NEET examination were announced on June 4th, 67 students astonishingly secured the top rank together. All 67 candidates scored an identical 99.997129 percentile. Never before have such a significant number of students simultaneously topped the results. In 2021, the highest was three students attaining the top position. The results sparked questions about how so many students could have achieved full marks. Hours after the results were announced, the integrity of this year's NEET examination was seriously questioned on social media. Of the 67 top scorers, 8 were from the same examination center. There were also claims from some students that their scores could not possibly be so low.
The case reaches the Supreme Court
Subsequently, the matter escalated to the Supreme Court and multiple petitions were filed. With hearings scheduled for July 8th, one petition alludes to large-scale paper leaks and the tactics employed to select favorable examination centers. For instance, students from states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gujarat chose a specific center in Godhra, Gujarat, to sit their NEET exams. These students reportedly bribed officials up to INR 10 lakhs to secure a center at Jay Jalaram School in Godhra. The Supreme Court has issued a notice to NTA, seeking a response within two weeks. Hearings on these petitions will take place alongside the main petition on July 8th.
The intricate cartel behind NEET paper leaks involves multiple states...
1. Bihar's paper leak and arrests:
During investigations into the NEET paper malpractices, Bihar police revealed leaks had occurred in the state when they found 13 candidates' roll codes in the possession of a solver gang. Initially, thirteen individuals, including four aspirants, were arrested. The main accused, Amit Anand, orchestrated the paper leak, while the second, Sikander Yadavendu, negotiated the sale. Following them are the students who paid up to 40 lakhs each for the papers. The fourth significant suspect is Pradeep Kumar, the personal secretary to Tejashwi Yadav, who is accused of booking guesthouse rooms for the accused students.
Mastermind of the paper leak:
Amit Anand is the linchpin of the NEET paper leak case, previously involved in several similar cases. He confessed to finalizing the paper deal with Sikander Yadavendu for millions of rupees. EOU's investigation is now honing in on a professor in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, suspected of facilitating the paper leak to examination mafia kingpin Sanjeev Mukhiya in Bihar. Sources suggest the leak originated from the Oasis School in Hazaribagh.
3. The Godhra, Gujarat connection:
Jay Jalaram School in Godhra, Gujarat, is a particular examination center where students from various states appeared for the NEET exam. The center's superintendent and deputy are accused of taking INR 10 lakhs from each student to aid in cheating during the examination. The local police uncovered this fraud ring, arresting six individuals, including the head of a coaching center.
4. FIRs in Maharashtra's Latur district:
The NEET paper leak has been traced to Latur district in Maharashtra. Following an investigation, four individuals are now implicated in the crime...
The Ministry of Education entrusts the CBI with a full-scale investigation after the NE educate ministry passes the case to the CBI for an extensive probe...
UGC-NET June 2024 exam canceled:
In light of the irregularities in the NEET examination, the Ministry of Education canceled the UGC-NET June 2024 exam scheduled across various cities on June 18, 2024. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the exam using the OMR (pen and paper) mode on June 19, 2024. The University Grants Commission (UGC) received inputs from the Ministry of Home Affairs, specifically from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU) under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center. The inputs preliminarily indicated the examination held on Tuesday was compromised.
UGC-NET exams also postponed:
Amid the NEET exam controversy, the CSIR-UGC-NET exams have been postponed...
Major discoveries in the UP RO and ARO exam paper leak action in two states:
Alongside the uproar surrounding the NEET paper leaks, substantial findings have been revealed in the RO and ARO paper leak case dating back to February of this year...
