The Bihar Police have arrested 13 individuals, including six middlemen, four students, and three parents, in connection with the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case. Among the most revealing confessions are those from four suspects arrested in Bihar, including a student, his uncle, and two middlemen. Their statements to the police outline how four candidates were coached to memorize the exam questions and answers the night before the May 5 exam, for a hefty fee of Rs 40 lakh per candidate.
Despite these arrests, the key question remains: who initially leaked the NEET-UG question paper? The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police, which is leading the investigation, has not officially commented. However, sources within the force have indicated that Sanjeev ‘Mukhiya’ Singh is the alleged mastermind behind this operation. Despite being named by multiple suspects, Sanjeev remains at large.
Who Is Sanjeev ‘Mukhiya’?
Sanjeev Singh, commonly referred to as Sanjeev ‘Mukhiya’, hails from Nalanda district in Bihar. His nickname originates from his wife Mamta Devi’s position as the elected ‘mukhiya’ or chief of Bhuthakhar Panchayat. Mamta also ran unsuccessfully in the 2020 Bihar elections on a Lok Jan Shakti Party ticket, finishing as the first runner-up.
Sources reveal that Sanjeev has a history of involvement in exam fraud. He is believed to have orchestrated the leak and passed the question paper to an associate named ‘Rocky’, who is also currently evading capture. Sanjeev’s name has surfaced in numerous past paper leak scandals, and he has even served jail time for his role in these crimes. His son, a doctor, is also in jail for his involvement in a Bihar teacher recruitment exam leak. Together, they are allegedly part of the ‘Mukhiya Solver Gang’, notorious for orchestrating exam frauds.
Sanjeev, a technical assistant at Nalanda College’s Noorsarai branch, was previously employed at Sabour Agricultural College. He was transferred following his arrest by Uttarakhand Police in 2016 for another paper leak case. Sanjeev has been missing since May 6, 2024, after his involvement in the NEET-UG leak came to light. The Nalanda College administration confirmed his absence amid the ongoing investigation.
The Investigation Unfolds
The investigation began with a tip-off on May 5, the day of the NEET-UG exam. A Jharkhand-based central agency informed the Bihar Police about a gang leaking the NEET-UG question paper, providing details about the car used by the suspects. Swift action by the police led to the arrest of the gang members, who were found in possession of the leaked papers.
Subsequent investigations revealed a complex network involving students, parents, and middlemen. The arrested students include Ayush Kumar (19) from Danapur, Abhishek Kumar (21) from Ranchi, Anurag Yadav (22) from Samastipur, and Shivnandan Kumar from Gaya. The parents arrested are Anurag’s mother Rina Kumari, Ayush’s father Akhilesh Kumar, and Abhishek’s father Awadhesh Kumar. The middlemen include Sikander Prasad Yadvendu, a junior engineer from Samastipur and Anurag’s uncle; his driver Bittu Kumar from Rohtas; and Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand from Munger. Raushan Kumar from Nalanda and Ashutosh Kumar from Jamui, associates of Amit Anand, were also detained.
Modus Operandi
According to the police, the gang charged candidates between Rs 30 to Rs 50 lakh, accommodating them in lodges in Patna where they memorized the leaked question papers overnight. Middleman Amit Anand confessed to providing the leaked papers and answers to the candidates the night before the exam, charging Rs 32 lakh per aspirant.
Ayush Kumar confirmed that he received the leaked paper on the night before the exam and that it matched the official exam paper. He also stated that 25 other candidates memorized the answers in the premises of a local hostel and school.
Junior engineer Sikander Prasad Yadvendu admitted to introducing four aspirants to the middlemen and charging them Rs 40 lakh each, intending to profit from the difference.
Official Response and Legal Proceedings
Manabjit Singh Dhillon, DIG of the Economic Offences Wing, advised caution regarding the ongoing investigation, especially with an impending Supreme Court hearing related to the NEET case scheduled for July 8. The Supreme Court has refused to delay the NEET-UG counseling process, set to start on July 6, amidst the controversy.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), criticized for the lapses, is preparing for a retest for 1,563 candidates who previously received grace marks due to exam disruptions at six centers.
As the investigation continues, the hunt for Sanjeev ‘Mukhiya’ remains a priority for the Bihar Police, with hopes of unraveling the full extent of this extensive exam fraud network.
