NEET-UG 2024 Candidates' Plea In Supreme Court Seeks CBI Investigation Into Alleged Paper Leak & Malpractices

A writ petition filed by NEET-UG candidates in the Supreme Court seeks a CBI investigation into the alleged instances of paper leak and malpractices in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2024 exam on May 5 this year.

Apart from the issue of alleged mass-scale paper leaks, the petitioners have raised the allegation of exam centre manipulations in the NEET-UG exam.

The petitioners raised suspicions about students from other states(Odisha, Karnataka, Jharkhand) choosing a particular centre at Godhra, Gujarat.

The petitioners stated :

"For example, in Panchmahal's Godhra taluka, Gujarat at least 16 students from distant States like Odisha, Jharkhand, and Karnataka allegedly paid Rs 10 lakh each to clear NEET and chose Center at Gujarat i.e. Jai Jalaram School as their center, despite being from other States."

It is said that the Gujarat police has registered a case after a teacher offered to solve the NEET exam after accepting Rs.10 lakhs. The petitioners claimed that as per the police, these 16 students, part of a group of 26, opted for this remote center and their names were found on lists recovered from the prime accused, Tushar Bhatt- a geography teacher at the school and a superintendent of the NEET Center. 

"The unusual choice of center highlighted the need to investigate who directed these students to Godhra instead of closer locations. Some students traveled over 1,000 km to take the exam at this center, appearing on a list of suspected malpractice," the petitioners stated.

Paper leak racket in UP, Bihar 

It is stated that a First Information Report (FIR No.358/ 2024) has been lodged at P.S. Shastri Nagar, Patna, Bihar under sections 407, 408, 409 read with 120-B of the Indian Penal Code by the Patna Police, accompanied with a statement made before the Magistrate Court in Patna indicating the existence of substantial evidence corroborating the NEET paper leak. They also referred to various news reports suggesting the involvement of a ring leader in the paper leak racket, purportedly acquiring the NEET question paper for a staggering sum of INR 60 crore in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The petitioners stated that the Economic and Cyber Crimes Division, Bihar Police has taken over the investigation from the Bihar Police after considering the prima facie evidence of pre-planned involvement of an organized gang in this case. According to a press release issued by the Economic and Cyber Crimes Division, Bihar Police, on May 10, one of the accused persons has also been involved in the Bihar Public Service Commission's (BPSC) Teachers Recruitment Exam (TRE)-3 paper leak case. Till date, 13 accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Out of 13 accused, 4 are candidates and the remaining are their parents and members of an organized gang.

They also allege that papers were leaked in Telegram channels a day before the exam.

"That a screen recording by a handle named “@flameblair” circulating in numerous groups indicate a possible nexus between an organized solver gang and beneficiary candidates due to appear in the said examination," the plea stated.

The petitioners argue that the NTA's denial of the paper leak, despite police cases and arrests, does not inspire confidence.

"The NTA's refusal to acknowledge the leaks despite the evidence raises serious concerns about its commitment to ensuring a fair examination process. This denial also casts doubt on the NTA's ability to conduct secure and transparent examinations."

Apart from these, the petitioners also raised the issue of grant of grace marks. However, it may be noted that, while dealing with another set of petitions, the Centre today told the Supreme Court that the grace marks will be revoked and the 1563 candidates who were given such marks will be given an option of re-test.

The petition has been preferred by two candidates namely Hiten Singh Kashyap and Palak Mittal.

The following reliefs/directions are sought by the petitioners i.e., to:

a) Direct  NTA to conduct fresh NEET UG examination-2024 after adopting necessary measures to prevent paper leak and other malpractice;

b) Stay the counselling and admission process based on NEET 2024 during pendency of the Writ Petition; and

c) Direct National Testing Agency to preserve and furnish the entire record of NEET UG 2024 Examination before this Hon'ble Court; and

e) issue appropriate guidelines to prevent any further incidents of paper leaks or administrative errors.;

f) Direct the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct thorough investigation; 

g) issue appropriate directions to the DGP, State of Bihar for producing the records and status report (chargesheet if any) pertaining to the investigation conducted in the mass level paper leakage highlighted in the FIR case no. 358/ 2024 lodged at P.S. Shastri Nagar, Patna, Bihar.

The petition has been drawn by Advocates Sumit Kumar Sharma, Rajat Sangwan and Vaibhav Yadav and filed through Sunny Kadiyan AoR.

The Supreme Court has sought the response of the NTA on three other petitions raising the issue of paper leak. Those petitions are listed on July 8.

Case : Hiten Singh Kashyap and another vs.National Testing Agency and others | Diary No. 26722 of 2024