NEET Paper Leak Case:
Following the backfoot stance of the National Testing Agency (NTA) on grace marks and continued denial of fraud in the NEET paper by the government, the aftermath of the Supreme Court hearing witnessed the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan dismissing all allegations of leaks, stating, 'There is no evidence of a paper leak. The charges of corruption in the NTA are baseless; it is a highly credible institute.' Meanwhile, contrasting revelations are emerging from the police investigations in Patna and Godhra.
The Conspiracy to Facilitate Cheating at Godhra Exam Center
The NEET UG exam, held on May 5th across various centers, was marred by reports of discrepancies at a center in Gujarat's Panchmahal district. Following suspicious mobile transactions linking 30 candidates to the Assistant Superintendent Tushar Bhatt, they were advised to attempt only what they knew and leave the rest of their answer sheets blank—hinting at an intent to manipulate the OMR sheets.
Significant Arrests in Godhra
The investigation has led to the arrests of five individuals, including a teacher and three main perpetrators, linked to financial transactions with students' parents. Their bail applications have been denied by the court as the inquiry delves deeper into the parents' statements and financial dealings.
Revelation of a 2.30 Crore Transaction
The police probe shed light on a financial transaction of 2.30 crore rupees facilitated through checks between the students' parents and the owner of Roy Overseas, Parsuram Roy. Confiscated during the raids were electronic gadgets intended for cheating, as well as blank and filled checks amounting to the suspected 2.30 crores, unraveling a likely conspiracy to ensure students passed the NEET exam through bribes.
Hearing at the Supreme Court Scheduled for July 8th
The NTA's petition to the Supreme Court for transferring cases filed across seven High Courts, including the Delhi High Court, regarding NEET exam issues signifies the gravity of the situation. The plea also urges for a CBI investigation into the alleged widespread paper leaks and the purported manipulation of choosing specific examination centers, such as the notable Jay Jalaram School in Godhra.
NTA Under Pressure for Information
The ball is in NTA's court as the police seek crucial information regarding the allotment of the particular exam center to the accused students and the overall selection process of the staff involved. NTA has yet to respond, leaving pressing questions about the depth of fraud within the organization unanswered.
In light of the massive outcry over the fairness of the NEET examination process, especially after troubling discoveries in Bihar and the NTA's opaque responses, the issue demands urgent and thorough investigation, not least to restore integrity to a pivotal examination in the lives of millions of students.
