CBI makes first arrest in NEET-UG paper leak, two held from Patna

The CBI has made its first arrest in the NEET-UG paper leak case, with apprehension of two people from Bihar. ANI news agency reported that Manish Prakash and Ashutosh were caught from Patna on the 27th of June. The arrest was made after the duo was summoned for questioning.

The CBI took over the case on the 24th of June. The agency visited the office of the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police and started an investigation into the alleged irregularities in the exam.

NDTV quoting CBI sources reported that Manish Prakash, who is believed to be the prime accused in the case, provided the use of an empty school where at least two dozen students were given the leaked paper and memorised it, while Ashutosh provided lodging for the students at his residence.

The CBI is investigating how the leaked paper ended up at the school, and the role of Manish Prakash and Ashutosh Kumar in the paper leak.

Ashutosh Kumar had allegedly taken 'Learn Boys Hostel and Play School' in Patna on rent from where the Economic Offence Unit of Bihar Police had recovered half-burnt question papers of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate), they said.

The CBI has found that Ashutosh Kumar knew that the premises was being used for providing question papers to NEET aspirants, they said.

About Manish Kumar, they said, that he allegedly struck deals with candidates who were ready to pay money for getting the question papers in advance.

He then brought these candidates to the hostel where they were provided with the paper and the answer key, they said.

The aspirants remained in the hostel till the examination and prepared for the paper held on May 5, they said.

The CBI has registered six FIRs in the NEET paper leak case.

The NEET-UG is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

This year's examination was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. Over 23 lakh candidates appeared for the test.

The first CBI FIR was registered on Sunday, a day after the ministry announced it would hand over the probe into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exam to the central agency. The demand for a CBI probe was raised by a section of protesting students.