The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended Rakesh Ranjan, alias Rocky, believed to be the mastermind behind the NEET-UG paper leak case. Sources indicate that Rocky, now in CBI custody for 10 days, orchestrated a nationwide racket involving the illicit dissemination of exam question papers. The investigation, spanning multiple states including Bihar and West Bengal, has already led to over a dozen arrests, including school officials from Hazaribagh.
The CBI’s probe, triggered by suspicions of paper leaks ahead of the NEET-UG exam on May 5, has resulted in several FIRs, highlighting lapses possibly originating from a bank branch or during transit to the exam centre. Rocky allegedly accessed and circulated question paper details to organized ‘solver gangs,’ facilitating cheating at a significant scale. This scandal, affecting nearly 24 lakh students, raised alarms with an unusual surge in perfect scores and contentious awarding of grace marks.
As the controversy escalates, the National Testing Agency (NTA) refuted claims of widespread leaks, dismissing images circulated on Telegram as fabricated. The Supreme Court, seized of the matter, has refrained from ordering a mass re-test pending further deliberation, acknowledging the socio-economic implications for underprivileged candidates.
With the arrest of Rocky and ongoing investigations, the NEET-UG paper leak saga continues to unfold, prompting scrutiny of examination integrity and governance.