The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated a new case regarding the alleged NEET medical entrance exam paper leak following a complaint from the Ministry of Education, reported Swarajyamag.
The latest case targets unknown individuals and involves accusations of fraud and criminal conspiracy.
NDTV reports that individuals previously arrested by state authorities will also be taken into custody by the CBI.
The Ministry has urged the CBI to investigate the potential involvement of any public officials connected to the exam and to look into the “larger conspiracy”.
“The Ministry of Education has asked the CBI to thoroughly investigate all alleged irregularities, including conspiracy, cheating, impersonation, breach of trust, and destruction of evidence by candidates, institutes, and intermediaries, including attempted irregularities,” the CBI stated.
“The Ministry has also requested the CBI to probe the involvement of any public servants linked with the examination process and to delve into the entire sequence of events and the larger conspiracy,” it added.
“The CBI has registered a criminal case and started an investigation. Special teams have been formed to prioritize this matter. Special CBI teams are being dispatched to Patna and Godhra, where local police have filed cases,” the statement said.
The CBI took over the case a day after the government, which had initially dismissed the possibility of a paper leak, announced the transfer of the investigation to the central agency.
Allegations of irregularities, including cheating and impersonation, emerged after the NEET-UG 2024 results were announced on June 4.
Students have been demanding a rescheduled exam for all candidates, not just the 1,500 who received grace marks.
However, the government has not agreed to this demand, and the re-test for the 1,563 candidates who initially received grace marks is being conducted today.
The original exam, held on May 5, was taken by 24 lakh students across the country.
When the results were declared, it was revealed that 67 students achieved perfect scores of 720/720, and over 500 students received grace marks.
This resulted in an unusually high cut-off percentage, raising concerns among students about securing college admission.
As protests continued and the investigation advanced, several people were arrested in Bihar. One arrested student confessed to receiving the exam papers the night before the test.
In response to the scandal, the head of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the exam, has been removed from his position.
