NEET Paper Leak Case Update: AIIMS Patna Doctors Detained by CBI
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the NEET-UG paper leak scandal by detaining three doctors from AIIMS Patna. This development comes ahead of a crucial Supreme Court hearing scheduled for today, where multiple petitions related to the controversy will be reviewed.
By Shreya Rajvanshi Gangal
CBI Action Against AIIMS Patna Doctors
The detained doctors are from the 2021 batch and have been taken into custody for questioning. The CBI has sealed their rooms and seized their laptops and mobile phones. This move follows the arrest of two individuals, Pankaj Kumar and Raju Singh, accused of stealing the NEET-UG question papers.
Arrests and Custody
Pankaj Kumar, identified as part of the paper leak mafia, allegedly stole the question papers with Raju Singh's assistance. A special court in Patna has remanded Pankaj Kumar to 14-day CBI custody and Raju Singh to 10-day custody. To date, the CBI has arrested nine people in the case and holds custody of 13 other accused, including the alleged kingpin, Rocky alias Rakesh Ranjan.
Supreme Court Hearing
The Supreme Court will hear a batch of petitions linked to the NEET-UG controversy. The previous hearing on July 11 was adjourned to today to allow the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to submit their responses. The petitions seek cancellation of the examination, a re-test, and a probe into the alleged malpractices.
Court's Observations and Affidavits
On July 8, the Supreme Court acknowledged the breach of NEET-UG 2024's sanctity and hinted at the possibility of ordering a re-test if the process was significantly compromised. The court requested detailed information from the NTA and the CBI regarding the timing and manner of the paper leak and the number of wrongdoers involved.
Centre and NTA's Response
In their affidavits, both the Centre and the NTA denied any indication of mass malpractice. Data analytics conducted by IIT-Madras found no localized set of candidates benefiting from the leak and scoring unusually high marks. The Centre mentioned that the counselling for undergraduate seats for 2024-25 would start in the third week of July and proceed in four rounds.
Analysis of NEET-UG 2024 Results
The NTA's analysis concluded that the higher marks achieved by some candidates were not due to systematic failure. The reduction of almost 25% of the syllabus was cited as a factor that helped aspirants score better.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear over 40 petitions related to the NEET-UG paper leak, the CBI's investigation continues to uncover more details. The outcome of today's hearing will be crucial in determining the next steps in addressing the scandal and ensuring the integrity of future medical entrance examinations.
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