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 guarantees. Furthermore, the investigation has also revealed that the accused – the director of a coaching institute in Maharashtra – was planning to build a school and college on 8 acres of land.
According to the CBI investigation, there was no fixed price for the exam papers; 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 terms of the agreement stipulated that the remaining amount would be paid only after the ‘answer key’ was released and it was confirmed that the given ‘question bank’ matched the actual examination paper. However, after the examination, many parents started refusing to pay. He argued that some questions in the Physics section did not match the real exam paper. Some parents paid only half of the stipulated amount, and promised to pay the remaining amount after the results were declared.
Even after the scam was exposed, the syndicate was collecting money
Based on intelligence received from the IB, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan 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 bought paper in Sikar, one of the brokers of the syndicate even demanded payment on the student’s phone. The CBI then raided the houses of the students who had purchased the paper, where the same pattern of financial transactions and demands for payment came to light.
Plan to build school and college on 8 acres of land in Latur
Shivraj Motegaonkar – alias ‘M Sir’ – (who has been arrested in connection with this case), who is the director of RCC coaching institute in Latur, Maharashtra, was preparing to open a school and college on 8 acres of land in Khopagaon Shivar area of Latur. Construction of a multi-storey building was going on rapidly at that place. CBI is currently investigating his source 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 took stock of 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 is scheduled to be held on June 21
The NEET-UG exam was conducted on May 3 in 551 cities across the country and 14 centers abroad. About 23 lakh candidates appeared in this 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 it was decided to re-conduct the exam. 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.