The prime suspect in the NEET-UG paper leak, Sanjeev Mukhiya, seems to have found a weak link in Jharkhand. The connection with Hazaribagh in the last two paper leaks (NEET-UG, BPSC) has come to the forefront. According to Bihar EOU sources, the NEET-UG paper with booklet number 6136488 was leaked from Hazaribag's Oasis School. There were also evidences of tampering found in the booklet boxes. The investigation team is tracking the patterns of the Sanjeev Mukhiya gang and proceeding with their probe.
Evidence of Tampering Found in Booklet Boxes
EOU sources believe that the NEET paper was leaked from Hazaribag's Oasis School because the investigation team found evidence of tampering with the booklet boxes. The police also suspect the involvement of Shabbir Ahmed, chairman of Oasis School, in the NEET paper leak case.
The Role of the School Is Suspicious
During the investigation of the NEET paper leak case, EOU found the role of Oasis School to be suspicious. Ehsanul Haque, the principal of Oasis School, is also the CBSE city coordinator, overseeing centers in four districts: Hazaribagh, Chatra, Koderma, and Ramgarh, where CBSE conducts several exams. As a CBSE city coordinator, the principal of Oasis School has a high level of accountability.
The EOU team has submitted a complete report related to the NEET paper leak to the Ministry of Education. This report contains comprehensive information about the investigation progress up to June 21st, along with evidence, facts, and the confessions of the accused. Subsequently, the Ministry of Education has decided to hand over the case to the CBI for investigation.
The BPSC Paper Was Also Leaked from Hazaribagh
Similarly, the paper for the BPSC teacher recruitment exam held on March 15th was also leaked from Hazaribagh. Around 268 candidates for the BPSC TRE3 examination were taken to various locations in Hazaribagh, including 113 candidates from the Nalanda district. These candidates were tutored the night before the exam with the questions and answers. The Jharkhand and Bihar Police conducted a joint operation and apprehended the candidates and the mafia involved.
There is suspicion that the NEET-UG paper was also leaked from Hazaribagh. This time the candidates were kept in Patna and the leaked paper was brought to Patna. Sanjeev Mukhiya's gang is believed to have been involved in this leak, as with the BPSC teacher recruitment exam, and is active in the NEET as well. Dr. Shiv, Sanjeev Mukhiya's son, is currently in jail in connection with the BPSC teacher recruitment exam paper leak. He was arrested along with four accomplices on April 21st from Ujjain. Shiv's name had also come up in the 2017 NEET paper leak case, and a case had been registered against him at Patna's Journalist Colony police station.
Source: aajtak
From Hazaribagh to Nalanda: A Safe Zone for the Gang
Meanwhile, the EOU has been tracking the working pattern of the Sanjeev Mukhiya gang, which has a significant connection to Hazaribagh. The gang easily enters the borders of Bihar from Hazaribagh and operates from there. The areas from Hazaribagh to Nalanda are considered a safe zone by Sanjeev Mukhiya, as his network is active in Nalanda, being a native of Shahpur Balwa near Nagarnausa in Nalanda.
Who Is Sanjeev Mukhiya?
Now, Bihar Police are on the hunt for Sanjeev Kumar alias Sanjeev Mukhiya alias Luton in connection with the NEET paper leak case. Sanjeev Mukhiya's name has been associated with several exam paper leaks since 2010. Initially working with Ranjit Don, one of Bihar's biggest education mafias, he later formed his own gang. Recently, Sanjeev Mukhiya and his gang were responsible for the BPSC exam paper leak. His son Dr. Shiv Kumar alias Bittu was arrested in connection with the BPSC exam paper leak and is currently in jail. It is said that Sanjeev Mukhiya operates a widespread network for paper leaks from his base in Nalanda, Bihar. Sanjeev Mukhiya's wife, Mamta Devi, has run for elections in 2020 on a Lok Jan Shakti Party ticket and has been a village head in the past.
19 Accused Arrested
To date, the Bihar EOU has arrested a total of 19 individuals in connection with the NEET paper leak. Thirteen of these arrests were made in Bihar, and six in Jharkhand. Accused Pintu, who managed the printing and distribution of the leaked paper to candidates, was arrested from Deoghar in Jharkhand. Pintu revealed that he printed the documents on the orders of Chintu. Both Pintu and Chintu are part of Sanjeev Mukhiya's network and Chintu was also arrested in Deoghar.
