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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the NEET paper leak case has arrested Rakesh Ranjan, alias Rocky, an accused alleged to be the mastermind behind the operation.
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the NEET paper leak case has arrested Rakesh Ranjan, alias Rocky, an accused alleged to be the mastermind behind the operation.
According to media sources, Rakesh Ranjan, alias Rocky was allegedly present during the unsealing of exam papers at the Oasis School in Hazaribagh, where he reportedly took photographs of the questions and shared them with ‘solver gangs’, an organized group that provides answers to leaked papers. These answers were subsequently sold to exam candidates at exorbitant prices.
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Media sources also confirmed that Ranjan has been remanded to CBI custody for 10 days. Simultaneously, the CBI is conducting raids at four locations, including two near Patna in Bihar and two near Kolkata in West Bengal, as part of their ongoing probe into the national racket involving leaked question papers of NEET.
Explaining the sequence of events, the CBI official said to media sources that nine sets of papers for the exam reached a State Bank of India branch two days earlier for safekeeping. From there, two sets were transported to the Oasis School in Hazaribagh but with the broken seal.
The CBI has filed multiple FIRs and continues to probe the origins of the leak, focusing on whether it occurred during the transit of exam papers or within exam centres themselves. The investigation has already led to the arrest of over a dozen individuals, including the principal and vice-principal of a school in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand and a journalist named Jamaludin.
Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which oversees the NEET exams, has defended itself against allegations that the paper was leaked via popular messaging platforms like Telegram. In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the NTA refuted these claims, labeling the circulated images as fabricated. The agency also clarified that no NEET-UG question papers were reported missing and no tampering with paper seals was detected in Bihar.
The Supreme Court, which is seized with several petitions seeking the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 exam, has refrained from ordering a re-test for the nearly 24 lakh students who appeared for the exam. The court emphasized that a re-test would only be considered as a last resort, given the logistical challenges and financial burden it would impose on candidates, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The NEET paper leak controversy erupted when anomalies, including an unusually high number of perfect scores and irregularities in the award of grace marks, were observed following the declaration of NEET-UG results last month.
