NEET UG 2024: CBI Assumes Control Over Probe; NTA Plans to Debar 17 Bihar Candidates

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation into the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam by registering a criminal case. Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has sent show-cause notices, threatening debarment to 17 candidates in Patna, based on a report from Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit.

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Sources say the Education Ministry considers the irregularities mentioned in the Bihar EOU report as a “localised problem” that can be resolved by debarring the involved candidates.

The NTA’s action against the 17 candidates (from 12 exam centers) suggests that a full-fledged retest is not currently planned. However, the final decision will be made by the Supreme Court, which is set to hear a batch of petitions related to the NEET-UG controversy.

Additionally, the NTA has issued show-cause notices to 30 candidates who appeared at two centers in Godhra, Gujarat, where they were allegedly assisted by invigilators and staff in filling out the correct answers on their OMR sheets.

On Sunday, after the CBI registered the criminal case, the Bihar and Gujarat governments announced the transfer of their local NEET-UG “paper leak” cases to the central agency.

A Gujarat government statement said, “An FIR has been registered with Godhra Taluka Police Station regarding the malpractice in this exam. The state government has decided to transfer the investigation to the CBI for a thorough investigation.”

The Bihar EOU also stated that it has handed over its probe to the CBI.

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These developments followed the Education Ministry's announcement of an expert committee, led by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan, to examine exam reforms and review the NTA’s functioning. The Ministry also removed Subodh Kumar Singh as NTA chief on Saturday.

Singh’s successor, Pradeep Singh Karola, a retired 1985-batch IAS officer, took charge on Sunday and reportedly met with the Higher Education Secretary and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Regarding Singh’s removal, a senior official, requesting anonymity, said, “The NTA leadership failed to inspire confidence in students; for example, the decision to award grace marks for lost time created unnecessary confusion.”

Sources indicate that the eight-member committee is expected to hold its first meeting on Monday.

The CBI case is based on a written complaint from the Union government’s Higher Education Department. The central agency has been instructed by the Education Ministry to investigate various alleged irregularities, including conspiracy, cheating, impersonation, breach of trust, and destruction of evidence by candidates, institutes, and middlemen, as detailed in the FIR.

A CBI statement said, “The complaint alleges certain isolated incidents occurred in a few states during the NEET(UG) 2024 examination. The Ministry has also requested the CBI to investigate the role of public servants, if any, involved in the conduct of the examination and the larger conspiracy.”

A CBI spokesperson confirmed that special teams have been formed to investigate the matter. These teams were dispatched to Patna and Godhra, where local police had registered cases before transferring them to the CBI.

The agency is also probing the alleged paper leak in the UGC-NET exam held on June 18. On Saturday, a CBI team in Bihar’s Nawada district, investigating this alleged leak, was surrounded by a mob, leading to a scuffle.

Nawada SP Ambarish Rahul stated, “At around 4.30 pm on June 22, we learned that a CBI team was surrounded by a mob in Kasiyadih village under Rajouli. As we learned about the scuffle with the CBI team, we sent a patrolling team to the spot. The police safely brought the CBI team to Rajouli police station.”

On Sunday, police booked and arrested four village residents for causing harm and obstructing public servants from performing their duty.

The SP later told reporters, “The CBI had not informed us about their team’s visit. We learned about their visit only after they were surrounded.”

A Nawada police officer, requesting anonymity, said, “The CBI team went to a person’s house without adequate police cover. As they began questioning a suspect, the villagers became furious and surrounded the CBI team.” —With inputs from ENS Ahmedabad and Patna.

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