By Chirali Sharma
The uproar against the recently held National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is not dying down anytime soon especially with the paper leaks making it even more concerning.
A Brief Rundown Of The NEET-UG 2024 Controversy
The NEET-UG 2024 was held last month on 5th May by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and saw more than 24 lakh candidates taking part from 571 cities across 4,750 centres in the country.
The problems started when the NEET-UG 2024 results were declared on 4 June with many students instantly demanding a probe of the exam alleging paper leaks and calling into question its integrity.
The allegations of a paper leak are not new, they have been cropping up from the day of the exam itself, something the NTA and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had dismissed initially.
When results came out, students were taken aback by the unusual results and grace marks being awarded to as many as 1500 students. Protests for a retest of NEET-UG 2024 started when news that 67 students topped the exam came out.
Several of them also filed petitions at the Supreme Court asking that the results of the NEET-UG 2024 exam be cancelled. In response, the SC issued a notice to NTA asking them to look into the allegations stating, “If there is 0.001% negligence on the part of anyone, it should be thoroughly dealt with. Children have prepared for the exams. We cannot forget their labour.”
Paper Leaks Confirmed
On 20th June, the allegations of a paper leak were confirmed though when Anurag Yadav, a 22-year-old NEET UG 2024 aspirant, was arrested by the Bihar Police after he confessed that he had gotten a leaked paper and it matched the actual NEET-UG 2024 exam question paper.
Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand were reported to be the masterminds in leaking the papers and charging as much as Rs. 30-32 lakh per paper.
Sikandar P Yadavendu who had them leak the paper to his nephew and other candidates in his confession stated, “During these conversations, I was told by Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar that they can a child passed in any exam/competition by leaking the question paper. When I told them about the NEET exam, they told me they will charge Rs 30-32 lakh to get a child to pass the NEET exam. I agreed and we kept meeting from time to time.”
Yadavendu then told the duo of four aspirants who would be interested in buying the paper.
Amit Anand in his confession confirmed this writing, “I went to meet Junior Engineer Sikandar at the Danapur Municipal Corporation office for some personal work… I divulged to Sikandar my ability to procure leaked papers for competitive exams and assist candidates in passing them. Subsequently, Sikandar expressed his interest in aiding NEET aspirants and agreed to the terms of payment.”
The students were given the paper a day before the exam and made to memorise it after being taken to a particular place. The official confessions were posted by India Today first and had the aspirants talking about what happened.
Aspirant 1
22-year-old Anurag Yadav, whose confession has been reported is said to be the nephew of Sikandar P Yadavendu a junior engineer in the Danapur Municipal Council who was approached by the masterminds of the paper leak the duo named Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand.
In Anurag’s confession, he wrote “My name is Anurag Yadav, age 22 years… I am giving my statement without fear or pressure, without greed or temptation before the inspector at Shastri Nagar Police Station. I was preparing for the NEET exam at the Allen Coaching Centre in Kota. My uncle (foofa or paternal aunt’s husband), Sikandar P Yadavendu, works as a junior engineer in the Danapur Municipal Council.
He told me there is a NEET exam on May 5, 2024. He asked me to return from Kota and that exam setting has been done. I returned from Kota and my uncle left me with Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar on the night of May 4, 2024.
I was given the question paper and answer sheet of the NEET exam and was made to read and memorise it that night. My centre was DY Patil School and when I went to the school to write the exam, I found the same questions in the exam paper that I had memorised correctly. After the exam, the police came and caught me. I confessed to my crime. This is my statement. I read and understood my statement and after finding it correct, I signed it.”
The Bihar Police arrested Anurag on 20th June after he gave a signed confession admitting he received the leaked papers.
Aspirant 2
21-year-old Abhishek Kumar and his father Awadhesh Kumar from Ranchi are also involved in this case.
In his confession, Abhishek wrote, “I am giving my statement of defence without fear or pressure, without any greed or temptation before the inspector at Shastri Nagar Police Station. I was preparing for NEET while staying in Ranchi.
My father is a friend of Sikandar P. Yadavendu… presently working as a Junior Engineer.
My father told me that the date of NEET examination is on 05.05.24. I came to Patna with my father on 03.05.24 and met Sikandar Uncle. On 04.05.24 at night, Sikandar Uncle told me to go with two people in Patna whose names were Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar.
He took me to Patna where I was taught and made to memorize the question paper related to the NEET exam. On 05.05.24, while I was giving the exam in KD Convent School, Bairiya, all the question papers and answer material taught to me were correct.
After the exam, the police came and caught me. I accepted my crime. I gave my statement. This is my statement. I read and understood my statement and after finding it correct, I signed it.”
Abhishek’s father Awadhesh Kumar also gave his confession in which he wrote, “During the conversation with Sikandar Yadavendu, I enquired about the latest news about my child. He told me that the date of NEET exam has been decided and the NEET exam will be held on 05.05.24.
I brought my son Abhishek from Ranchi to Patna on 03.05.24 and met Sikandar Yadavendu on 04.05.24. After the meeting, Sikandar Yadavendu took my child to Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar where my child was made to read the NEET question paper and answer sheet and memorize it.
In return, two black cheques from SBI Bank Main Branch Ranchi were given to help him pass the NEET exam a year ago. The deal was for Rs. 40 lakhs. Two black cheques of my account number 32259670701 were given to Sikandar Yadavendu with the assurance that his child will pass. After the examination, I and my son were caught by the police.”
Aspirant 3
NEET aspirant Shivanandan Kumar, 19 years old, also reportedly has familial connections with Yadavendu. In his confession, he wrote, “My name is Shivnandan Kumar, age 19 years, son of Ramswaroop Yadav, resident of Haraiya, Thana-Barachatti, Dist-Gaya.
I am giving my statement of defence without fear or pressure, without greed or temptation before the Inspector at Shastri Nagar Thana. I have family relations with Sikandar P. Yadavendu and uncle told me that the date of NEET exam has been published and it is going to be held on 05.05.24.
In this sequence, I used to stay in Patna Buddha Colony and prepare. Uncle told me to come in the evening on 04.05.24 and I reached uncle. Uncle sent me to Amit Anand and Nitish where I was made to study and memorize the NEET exam question paper and answer material. I was at my exam centre Patliputra Colony International School. I reached there and gave my exam as per the shift and after the exam I was caught by the police.
The question paper and answer material were found to be correct in the exam. After the exam suddenly the police came and caught me. I accepted my crime. I gave this statement. This is my statement. I have read and understood my statement and found it to be correct.”
Furthermore, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police has also recovered six post-dated cheques allegedly given to the main accused in the NEET 2024 leaked papers case as per a report by The Hindu.
Manavjit Singh Dhillon, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), EOU, speaking with PTI on Sunday said, “During the course of the investigation, EOU sleuths recovered six post-dated cheques that were issued in favour of criminals who reportedly facilitated question papers to the aspirants ahead of the examination.”
The DIG also said, “The evidence of the transaction has also been found and six post-dated cheques have also been recovered during the course of the investigation. The EOU sleuths also recovered partially burnt question papers from the safe house.
We have sought reference question papers from the NTA. It has not responded to this so far. Once we get reference question papers from the NTA, we will send the burnt question paper to the appropriate forensic laboratory for its examination.”
The EOU has also as per reports, arrested 13 people, including four examinees and their family members in connection with the case and sent notices to nine candidates to assist in the investigation.
Note: This article was originally published here.