The CBI investigation into the NEET paper leak case has revealed that the syndicate had sold the exam papers at prices ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹50 lakh, depending on the financial condition of the students’ families. To ensure payment of the remaining amount, blank checks and original documents of the students were kept as collateral. Furthermore, the investigation also revealed that one of the accused – the director of a coaching institute in Maharashtra – was in the process of building a school and college on 8 acres of land. According to CBI, there was no fixed price for the paper; The deal was made on the basis of the economic capacity of each family. The entire amount was not taken in advance; Initially only a token amount was charged. The agreement contained a condition that the remaining amount would be paid only after the answer key was released and it was confirmed that the ‘question bank’ provided matched the actual examination paper. However, after the exam, many parents started refusing to pay, claiming that some of the Physics questions in the material given did not match the real exam. Some parents paid only half of the fixed amount, and promised to pay the remaining amount after the results were declared.
Even after the scam came to light, the syndicate was collecting money
Based on intelligence received from the IB, Rajasthan SOG launched an operation on the night of 8 May. Even at that time, members of the syndicate were actively engaged in collecting payments from buyers. During the interrogation of a student who had purchased the paper in Sikar, a middleman of the syndicate actually demanded payment on the student’s phone. The CBI then raided the homes of several students who had purchased the paper, and in every case, the same pattern of financial transactions was found.
Plan to build school and college on 8 acres of land in Latur
Director of RCC coaching institute in Latur, Maharashtra, Shivraj Motegaonkar – alias ‘M Sir’ – who was arrested in connection with the case, was planning to build a school and college on 8 acres of land in Khopagaon Shivar area of Latur. The construction of a multi-storey building was going on rapidly at this place. The CBI is currently investigating his sources of funds, land acquisition process and his financial transactions. The agency has also interrogated his wife and son in connection with this case.
Five accused were sent to judicial custody; Remand of one was extended
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has sent the five accused – Mangilal Khatik, Vikas Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Yash Yadav and Dhananjay Lokhande – to judicial custody till June 2. Shubham Khairnar’s CBI remand has been extended for five days. The court has also given permission to collect sample signatures from Manisha Mandhare and Motegaonkar. On Wednesday, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed the preparations for the NEET re-exam. He directed that strict action should be taken against those spreading misleading claims about the paper leak through fake Telegram channels and social media platforms.
NEET re-exam will be held on June 21
The NEET-UG exam was conducted on May 3 at 551 cities in the country and 14 centers abroad. Around 23 lakh candidates had appeared in the examination. According to NTA, reports of irregularities in the examination were received on the evening of May 7. Subsequently, the case was handed over to central agencies. On May 12, the exam was cancelled, and a decision was taken to conduct the exam again. In view of the NEET-UG re-examination to be held on June 21, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had issued instructions to take action against fake Telegram channels and online networks spreading rumors related to the exam.