NEET-UG Row: CBI Files FIR, 18 Arrested, NTA Cracks Whip Against More Students | Top Updates

The nationwide probe into the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG has gained momentum with the CBI filing an FIR and dispatching teams to states and the Bihar Police arresting five persons in a paper leak case, taking the total arrests to 18.

As demands for cancellation of the May 5 exam grow, Union Education Ministry officials reiterated the government’s earlier stand that the incidents of malpractices were “localised” or “isolated” and it was not fair to jeopardise the careers of lakhs of candidates who cleared the exam rightfully. Here are some of the top updates in the NEET row:

• CBI Takes Over Investigation: The CBI filed an FIR and is investigating alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam.
• Bihar Government’s Notification: Bihar issued a notification to transfer the NEET-UG case to the CBI, facilitating the central agency’s intervention.
• Arrests in Paper Leak Case: Bihar Police’s EOU arrested five suspects from Jharkhand, linked to the paper leak, bringing the total arrests to 18.
• Involvement of Gang: Baldev Kumar, associated with the Mukhiya gang, allegedly received and distributed solved answer sheets, implicating gang members in the leak.
• Origin of Leaked Papers: The leaked NEET-UG question paper reportedly originated from a private school in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.
• Malpractices Detected: NTA debarred 17 students from Bihar exam centres for malpractices, amidst ongoing scrutiny and investigation.
• CBI’s Comprehensive Probe: The CBI is investigating under IPC sections like criminal conspiracy and cheating, focusing on the wider nexus behind the exam irregularities.
• National Implications: The NEET-UG exam controversy has sparked nationwide protests and legal actions, demanding transparency and fairness in exams.
• Government Response: The Union Education Ministry defended the exam’s integrity while acknowledging localised malpractices, resisting calls for exam cancellation.
• Impact on Candidates: Over 13 lakh candidates qualified in NEET-UG, competing for limited medical seats, amidst concerns over inflated scores and compromised exam processes.
• Retest: In an optional retest held for 1,563 students whose grace marks were scrapped after the matter reached the Supreme Court, only 813 appeared on Sunday.
• Interstate racket: The Bihar police linked the NEET-UG row to an interstate racket operating from Bihar. The accused, Chintu, was arrested in Devghat and was present at Learn Play School, where the leaked question papers were received.
• Opposition Attack: The opposition parties, including Congress, have intensified their criticism of the government, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
• High-level panel: The education ministry’s high-level panel, headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, was formed. It aims to ensure transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations through the NTA.