A chemistry teacher from Rajasthan who was among the first to alert authorities to the alleged NEET paper leak has said he decided to approach officials after spending hours verifying a viral PDF that appeared to match the actual examination paper.
Shashikant Suthar, who teaches at Guru Kripa Career Institute, Sikar, Rajasthan, told the Sunday Guardian that he first came across the PDF of the NEET paper on the evening of 3rd May, when his landlord showed him a document that was circulating widely with claims that some students had received it before the examination.
According to Suthar, he did not immediately conclude that the paper had been leaked. Instead, he said he spent hours matching questions from the viral PDF with the actual examination paper before concluding that the document matched the exam paper.
Suthar said that after reaching that conclusion, he went to the local police station the same evening and lodged a complaint. He later emailed the National Testing Agency (NTA) and other government agencies on 7th May regarding the matter.
He said he was surprised by the speed of the response from authorities and had not expected that government agencies would respond so quickly to what he described as a simple email sent by an ordinary citizen.
According to Suthar, after the emails were sent, he received calls from ministry officials and other agencies. He added that officials personally visited him on 8th May to inquire further into the matter.
Speaking about his motivations, Suthar said his primary concern was that students who had prepared honestly for the examination should not suffer because of any lapse in the system. He said he believed undeserving candidates should not be allowed to enter the medical profession through unfair means.
Suthar, who has been teaching chemistry for the last 12 years, comes from a modest background. His father works as a motor mechanic while his mother is a housewife. He currently lives in Nohar in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan.
He said he understood that becoming involved in such a matter could lead to repeated questioning and official scrutiny. However, according to him, he did not think too much about those consequences because he believed reporting the matter was the right thing to do.
According to Suthar, the values and sense of responsibility behind his actions were shaped largely by his father.
He also said that the actions of a few individuals should not tarnish students and teachers who had worked honestly in Rajasthan’s coaching institutes.
